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Liberian-turned-American sprinter McCoy raring for action
American sprinter Maia McCoy during a training session at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on May 28, 2025 ahead of the 2025 World Continental Gold Tour Kip Keino Classic. Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
What you need to know:
- McCoy is making her third tour of Africa after competing at the African Games in Ghana and the African Championships in Cameroon last year.
Fired up African 100m silver medallist Maia McCoy is among athletes loving the Kenya weather, having arrived early to acclimatise ahead of the Absa Kip Keino Classic on Saturday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
"I am so excited to be here. I came here because I have heard about the event and how fast the tracks are," said the 28-year-old McCoy.
"I thought it would be super-hot, but the nice breeze is soothing, cool."
Other top athletes to arrive early for acclimatisation are 2019 Doha and 2022 Oregon world javelin champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, South African sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza, and middle distance runner Shafiqua Maloney from Saint Vincent.
McCoy is making her third tour of Africa after competing at the African Games in Ghana and the African Championships in Cameroon last year.
American 400m hurdler Bianca Stubler trains at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on May 28, 2025, ahead of the 2025 World Continental Gold Tour Kip Keino Classic.
However, she will compete for the United States of America and not Liberia this time around after falling out with Liberian officials last year after she was denied an opportunity for the Paris Olympic Games.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, McCoy is keen on improving on her personal best in 100m (11.07 seconds) and 200m (22.55), all attained this year.
McCoy claimed silver at the African Games in Accra after running 11.49 in the women’s 100m before going for another silver, timing 44.02 in the 4x100m in March last year.
McCoy clocked 11.16 to win silver in the women’s 100m before going for bronze with the 4x100m relay team after clocking 44.38.
It’s in Doula where she fell out with the Liberian officials who questioned her move to represent the country further after she was denied permission to return to the USA.
Being ranked 33 out of 100 in the world before the Paris Olympics, McCoy saw it as a golden opportunity to represent Liberia at the Summer Games but the Liberian officials declined to enter her for the games.