Team Nigeria’s quarter-mile ace Chidi Okezie delivered a brilliant performance at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday, clocking a Season’s Best (SB) of 44.98s to finish second in the men’s 400m.
Okezie, who has been steadily building form this season, was just 0.01 seconds shy of his Personal Best (PB) of 44.97s, showcasing impressive speed and strength down the home straight at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
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The race, however, belonged to South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, who stunned the crowd and the athletics world by storming to a World Lead and massive Personal Best of 43.76s—the fastest time globally so far this year.
Nene’s performance is now the fifth-fastest time ever run by an African athlete in the event.
For Okezie, the time marks an encouraging step forward as he sharpens up for a busy international season that includes the African Championships, the World Relays, and potential Olympic qualification. His near-PB time signals that the 31-year-old is peaking at the right time.
The men’s 400m was one of the most anticipated races of the Kip Keino Classic, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, and it did not disappoint. With the altitude of Nairobi and a roaring crowd, the athletes rose to the occasion.
Speaking after the race, Chidi Okezie expressed satisfaction with his performance:
“I’m really happy with the time. I’ve been working hard this season, and to come this close to my PB shows the progress. Congratulations to Zakithi—what a phenomenal run. This just motivates me to keep pushing.”
With this performance, Okezie further solidifies his place as one of Africa’s premier quarter-milers and a strong contender on the global stage as the athletics season heats up.
