K. TeyaAthletics Kenya unveils team for global indoor showdown
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 10.03.26. | 10:59
This team reflects Kenya’s blend of proven champions and emerging stars, aiming to make a strong impact on the global indoor stage
Athletics Kenya (AK) has announced a formidable six-member team to represent the nation at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, scheduled for 20-22 March in Kujawy Pomorze, Poland.
The squad features top performers across sprint and middle-distance events, including 400m national champion Mercy Oketch, 400m indoor record holder Brian Tinega, 2022 World Indoor 800m silver medallist Noah Kibet, and Rosemary Longisa, who will compete in the women’s 800m.
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Completing the team are 2022 World 5,000m silver medallist Jacob Krop and 1,500m specialist Susan Ejore.
“AK has selected six athletes to proudly carry Kenya’s flag at the World Athletics Indoor Championship,” the federation said in a statement. “The team combines experienced competitors with rising talent as Kenya aims for strong performances on the global indoor stage.”
Mercy Oketch has been in impressive form on the indoor circuit this season.
She began with a commanding win at the 27th Internationales Leichtathletik Meeting in Chemnitz, Germany, stopping the clock at 52.98.
She followed that with a third-place finish at the Madrid World Indoor Tour Gold, clocking 52.25, behind the Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver (51.26) and Spain’s Blanca Hervas (51.59).
Oketch, most recently returned to winning ways at the Meeting Metz Moselle in France, posting a season-best 51.53.
Brian Tinega heads to Poland after breaking a 31-year-old national record.
At the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Meeting in Texas, USA, he finished second in 45.68, surpassing the previous mark of 45.98 set by Charles Gitonga in 1995 at the Meeting Pas-de-Calais in France.
Tinega has also claimed second place at the New Mexico Collegiate Meet (46.44) and third-place finishes in the men’s 4x400m relay at both the Razorback Invitational (3:06.50) and the Big 12 meet (3:09.51).
Rosemary Longisa, a student at Washington University, has had a strong indoor season.
Highlights include a podium finish over 1,000m (2:38.26) at the Dempsey Indoor Meet, a win in the mile (4:24.59) at the Seattle Invitational, and second place over 800m (1:59.71) at the Husky Classic.
Kibet has enjoyed success on the indoor circuit, winning the Czech Indoor Gala in 1:46.71 over 800m, and following that with a second-place finish at the Moscow meet (1:45.77), narrowly behind Algeria’s Slimane Moula (1:45.48).
Over 3,000m, Jacob Krop has posted consecutive runner-up finishes at the Karlsruhe Meeting in Germany (7:38.64) and the Meeting Hauts-de-France (7:34.68), demonstrating consistent form.
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Meanwhile, Ejore has also delivered solid performances, finishing fifth in the mile at the Millrose Games (4:22.23) and third in the 3,000m at the Sound Running Invite (8:37.84).
This team reflects Kenya’s blend of proven champions and emerging stars, aiming to make a strong impact on the global indoor stage.
Additional reporting by Athletics Kenya Media.