World relay gold medalist, Nene, among star attractions at Kip Keino Classic
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 29.05.25. | 09:25
The world champion is expected to face fierce competition from the local sprinters led by Team Kenya captain at the World Relays Boniface Mweresa and Zablon Ekwam among others
South Africa recently impressed at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, winning a double in the 4x100m and 4x400m men's races.
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On the final leg for the longer race, delivering a world lead of 2:57.50 was Zakhithi Nene, who, alongside Gardeo Isaacs, Udeme Okon, and Leendert Koekemoer, ripped 0.62 off their national record of 2:58.12 set by Nene, Isaacs, Lythe Pillay and Antonie Nortje when they finished fifth at the Paris Olympics.
His speed and experience will be on display at Ulinzi Complex as the 27-year-old headlines a loaded 400m men's field that includes the African Games champion Chidi Okezie of Nigeria, Australia’s Cooper Sherman, and Portuguese Joao Coelho among other local stars.
The national champion produced a new personal best of 44.22 at the SA championships in Potchefstroom in April to put his name on the world-class athlete conversation. In China, he dropped a 43.64 split, a clear indicator of what he is capable of. Having progressed steadily from 45.03 in 2021 to 44.74 in 2022 and 2023, Nene’s 2024 best was 44.80.
He shot through to a 44.22 in April and headed to the Rabat Diamond League, on 25 May, targeting a sub-44. He clocked 44.46 for second place in a race won by American Jacory Patterson who timed 44.37. Olympic 400m champion Quincy Hall was third.
He heads to Nairobi eager to lower his personal best as he pushes to join the somewhat exclusive sub-44 club, and perhaps challenge his compatriot Wayde Van Niekerk' world mark of 43.03.
The world champion is expected to face fierce competition from the local sprinters led by Team Kenya captain at the World Relays Boniface Mweresa and Zablon Ekwam among others.
Mweresa was key for Team Kenya at the relay championship as they secured three tickets to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He raced in the 4x400m men, 4x100m men, with 4x400m mixed relay that won bronze going through as well.
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