NAIROBI: Australian Lachlan Kennedy produced a powerful finish to topple a strong African 100m field in a personal best 9.98sec at the Kip Keino Classic on Saturday.
Kennedy, 21, came from behind to beat Bayanda Wazala of South Africa and Kenya’s African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala into second and third positions respectively in Nairobi.
“As soon as I saw the 9.98 I was thrilled, the feeling was so surreal. I couldn’t believe it,” said an ecstatic Kennedy, who in January ran a world-leading 6.45sec in the 60m in Canberra.
Kennedy is one half of an exciting duo of young Australian sprinters, led by the 17-year-old sensation Gout Gout.
Walaza, 19, who will hope to make his mark for South Africa in this summer’s World Championships in Tokyo, timed 10.03sec in second and said he was picking up experience all the time.
“I am still getting my way into the 100m. I am learning from these people, including Akani (Simbine) and Omanyala, who are my mentors,” he said.
Earlier South Africa’s Zakithi Nene recorded the fastest time in the world over 400m with a sparkling personal best of 43.76sec, beating Nigerian Chidi Okezi (44.89sec) into second place.
The 27-year-old Nene, who previous best was 44.22sec at the South African championships in April, made up for the disappointment of finishing runner-up to American Jacory Patterson at the Rabat Diamond League last weekend.
Kenyan-born Jonah Koech, competing for the United States, upstaged his former compatriots to win the 800m in a personal best 1min 43.32sec.
It was Koech’s second track victory in a week after his shock maiden Diamond League victory in the 1500m in Rabat.
Trinidadian two-time world javelin champion Andersen Peters’ hopes of winning his first Kip Keino title were shattered when he finished seventh with a disappointing 77.49m.
Brazilian Luiz Mauricio da Silva dominated the event with a new personal best of 86.34m to finish ahead of Germany’s former Olympic champion Thomas Rohler (80.79).
Reigning Olympic hammer champion Ethan Katzberg continued his great form when the Canadian threw 82.73m to record his best performance of the year so far.
Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025
