Kip Keino Classic: Ethiopia dominates 5000m as Kenya clinches 10000m race
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 31.05.25. | 16:56
Kenya’s Mburu Stanley Waithaka completed the 5000m podium with a time of 13:38.17
Ethiopia's Amare Hailemariyam emerged victorious in the men's 5000m at the 2025 Kip Keino Classic, clocking 13:34.02 to secure a dramatic win at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday, May 31.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
His compatriot, Tadesse Zenebe Ayele, finished closely behind in 13:34.86 in what turned into a thrilling head-to-head sprint in the final lap.
Kenya’s Mburu Stanley Waithaka completed the podium with a time of 13:38.17.
Amare ran a masterclass in patience and precision.
He maintained composure in what was a cagey and tactical race, only shifting gears in the final two kilometres to dominate the closing stages.
From the gun, it was a tight field with at least nine athletes bunched together until the halfway point.
The pacemaker led a tightly packed group, which remained intact until the seventh lap with no clear front-runner emerging.
Notably, the Ethiopian pair of Amare and Ayele kept a low profile early on, strategically positioned within the pack of Kenyan and Ugandan athletes.
It was Kenya’s Charles Rotich who led most of the middle stages before fading after Andrew Kiptoo withdrew.
Mburu made the first real move, breaking away from the group with two laps to go.
That prompted a swift response from the Ethiopian duo, who closed in quickly and began to apply pressure.
At the bell, Mburu still held a slender lead, but Amare and Ayele surged past him on the back straight, turning the contest into an all-Ethiopian duel.
Amare powered ahead in the final 100 meters to take the title — his first major international win.
Senchura wins men’s 10,000m in style
Silas Senchura is the winner of the men’s 10,000m at the 2025 Kip Keino Classic staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
Senchura powered to a mouthwatering victory in a race that kicked off at a slow pace.
He topped the 25-lap contest in 28:18.46 ahead of Titus Kiprotich (28.21.89) and Joseph Kimutai (28.23.83), who settled for second and third places, respectively.
The victor unleashed a powerful kick at the final bend, widening the lead as he charged to a convincing win.
With five laps to go, the leading pack whittled down to three men - Senchura, Kiprotich and Kimutai, who commanded the front.
“I came here to try and finish in the podium bracket and to get an invitation for the World Championships trials. I train in Iten and I'm happy to have finished second,” Kiprotich said after the second-place finish.
At the early stages of the afternoon race, the large leading group ran a well-measured race with none of them reluctant to make a move.
Kenneth Kiprono took the lead on the first seven laps before former African 5000m champion Robert Kiprop momentarily stepped forward, but the podium finishers were yet to play their cards in the national event.
.jpg)
