It was a night to remember for both 2024 Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Gabi Thomas as they dominated their respective fields, thrilling a packed Nyayo National Stadium at the 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic.
Running under the floodlights for the first time in the event’s history, the stars of the track didn’t disappoint.
Wanyonyi Rules the 1500m at Absa Kip Keino Classic
800m specialist Emmanuel Wanyonyi stunned Timothy Cheruiyot with a successful step up to the 1500m.
Testing his range against a stacked Kenyan field, the 21-year-old sensation proved he is just as lethal over three and three-quarter laps, just like he showed in 2025 during the Jamaican Grand Slam Track.
Wanyonyi clocked a massive Personal Best of 3:34.11, leading a Kenyan clean sweep of the top seven positions. He showed immense maturity, holding off a fierce challenge from Reynold Cheruiyot, who finished second in 3:34.73. Kyumbe Munguti rounded out the podium with a time of 3:36.21.
The victory cements Wanyonyi’s status as one of the most versatile middle-distance runners in the world, comfortably beating seasoned milers like Timothy Cheruiyot and Abel Kipsang in the process.
Thomas Stakes Her Claim
In the sprints, triple Olympic champion Gabi Thomas lived up to her billing as the meet’s headline act. Making her debut in the Kenyan capital, Thomas blazed through a -1.1 wind to claim the women’s 100m title in 11.01 seconds.
Thomas led an American sweep of the top six places. She was followed home by Cambrea Sturgis (11.15) and Maia McCoy (11.18). Despite the high altitude and a slight headwind, Thomas’s top-end speed was undeniable as she pulled away from the field in the final 30 meters.
Kenya’s sprinting veterans also had their moments of glory. In the 100m, Milicent Ndoro secured a 7th-place finish with a Season’s Best of 11.76, while Lilian Dianah Aoko Owako gave the home crowd something to cheer about by clocking a Personal Best of 11.83 to finish 8th.
