Fascinating Kenyan trials and the guaranteed medals in Tokyo 2025

The Kenyan trials, happening in a nation that is one of the most successful in Athletics, often attract a lot of interest. This was the case as Kenya prepared to name its World Championships-bound team. As usual with the Kenyan trials, there were surprises and some disappointments. 

For some decades, some have referred to the Kenyan trials as “mini-world championships” because the podium place finishers in Nairobi have often featured as the main protagonists at the World Championships. The question has always been: Will all the top Kenyan stars make the team at the trials? And indeed, many of the big stars have suffered major upsets. The remedy for that has been the reservation of the third spot for the panel of selectors to see circumstances surrounding such upsets and offer a way for the potential medalists to still get in the team.

I was in Nairobi to cover the 2025 Tokyo World Championships Trials, get you stories, and analyse the team that will represent the country in Japan.

It happened on a Tuesday when most sports fans were at their places of work, and the turnout of fans was as uncertain as the possibility of some big names making the team for the Tokyo World Championships, which will be held from 13 to 21 September in Tokyo. However, the fact that the entry to the Ulinzi Sports Complex, the same venue that hosted an electrifying World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting two months ago, was free helped the situation.

Although there was not a massive crowd as anticipated, the atmosphere at the stadium was electric, with fans blowing vuvuzelas and waving Kenyan flags.

Among the runners who had already picked their bibs for the event the previous day included 17-year-old Edmund Serem, the 2024 world U20 champion over the 3000m steeplechase, and 21-year-old Faith Cherotich who was the 2022 world U20 champion and now the reigning Olympic and World bronze medalist. Both runners currently train at the same camp in Kaptagat.

Although he would end up not running, 18-year-old Phanuel Koech, who had just set a new world U20 record of 3:27.72 in the men’s 1500m in Paris, was another star that the fans were eager to watch. With only two automatic spots guaranteed to make the team, there would be a significant upset in the men’s 1500m event for the other established runners.

Beatrice Chebet and Agnes Ngetich, who had already secured their spots for the 5000m event at the trials in Eugene earlier in the month, were back again in the women’s 10,000m race to seek double tickets. If the two would finish in the top two positions again, given that 10,000m seems to be their favourite distance, more than 5000m, athletic fans were eager to see what the selectors would say at the end of the day.

As the world catches up with Kenya in the distance events, there has been a rapid interest in the sprints among Kenyan runners of late. Fans were eager to watch whether there would be more sprinters qualifying for Tokyo.

For the first time, three relay teams; the men’s 4x100m, the mixed relay and the men’s 4x400m have secured their spots for the Tokyo 25 championships.

Mercy Oketch, who was instrumental in the mixed 4x400m relay team securing qualification, ran a new national record of 50.14 at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold. She and the dancing queen Mary Moraa already qualified for the women’s 400m event, but Moraa chose to concentrate on the 800m, where she is the defending champion.

Three men, George Mutinda, Brian Tinega and Kelvin Kipkorir also hit the world championships qualification time in the men’s 400m during the Kenyan national championships last month.

Expected medals in Tokyo 2025 for long distances

Nothing is “guaranteed” in track and field; that is why it is a competition, with each participant standing a chance to win, especially at the World Championships, where they must meet the qualification standards before making it to the event.

However, looking at the winning streaks and the current form of some athletes, one could argue that their potential to medal is much closer to being “guaranteed” that being merely expected.

Below are my observations of the long-distance races at the Kenyan trials on the 22nd of July 2025: the men’s 5000m and the women’s 10,000m.

Women’s 10,000m was the first event on track to kick off the trials and after a thrilling and fast race, the 2024 All-African champion Janeth Chepngetich secured her spot for the Tokyo World Championships with a winning time of 30:27.0, becoming the first one to do so on a chilly and cloudy morning at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.

World record holder for the 10K event, Agnes Ngetich, followed in 30:27.4 for second place, while the world record holder for the 10,000m, Beatrice Chebet, finished third in 30.27.5.

Despite finishing 3rd, it is not hard to tell that the reigning Olympic Champion will be the biggest star to watch in the women’s 10,000m event in Tokyo, and that if Kenyans finish 1-2-3, then the results from the Kenyan trials could be read in reverse.

As they lined up for the race, the runners appeared to be under no pressure, judging from their smiles during the introduction. After Chebet was introduced, the announcer mentioned Agnes and paused momentarily. Chebet nudged Ngetich on the shoulder, they both smiled as she raised her hand and the announcer proceeded to mention the next contestant on the start line.

From the start of the race, which had 7 runners, Chepngetich appeared intent on either winning it or going after a fast time, as the rest followed her in a single file.

At midway, Agnes Ngetich overtook her as she increased the pace a bit to whittle down the leading pack to three runners. All this time, Beatrice Chebet stuck behind the two leaders as though buying her time to unless a kick at the final lap.

Towards the end of the race, Chepngetich again moved to the front. At the bell, she increased the pace and Ngetich and Chebet matched her strides, but none could overtake her, perhaps the two just doing enough to ensure they were in the team.

While most of the runners, especially the winners in their respective events, had their names printed on their bibs, the winner of the men’s 5000m race only had number 132 printed on his chest. The race produced some surprises. The main protagonists and those with the world championships qualifying times failed to finish or did not feature on the podium.

Cornelius Kemboi, who has a personal best time of 13:10, dominated the last stages of the competitive race to lead Mathew Kipsang and Kelvin Kiplagat, two other surprise podium finishers.

Eugene 2022 world silver medalist Jacob Krop and 5K world bronze medalist Nikolas Kipkorir finished outside the podium. The other big name, Paris Olympic silver medalist Ronald Kwemoi, dropped out of the race midway.

Because third place was reserved for the officials to put in a runner of their choice, Kipkorir was named on the team. The two top finishers were given until 24 August to meet the 13:01.00 5000m Tokyo qualifying time to be included in the team.

Fortunately, the top two finishers found a chance to hit the qualification marks at the IFAM Oordegem Putbosstadion meeting in Belgium. Kemboi won the race in 12:57.80 while Kipsang was sixth in 12:58.61.

Kenyan trials do not include the marathon events, but the teams are named together with the rest.

Olympic Champion, 2-time World Half Marathon Champion, World Road Running Champion, and 3-time Major Marathon winner, Peres Jepchirchir leads the women’s team for the marathon alongside Olympic and multiple World Champion, Vivian Cheruiyot; the 2025 Rotterdam Women Marathon winner, Jackline Cherono and fourth place finisher at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, Magdalyne Masai.

Vincent Ngetich, Erick Sang, Kennedy Kimutai and Hillary Kipkoech were named into the men’s marathon team.

Big stars in the middle-distance track events exempted from Kenyan trials

Fans at the stadium were denied a chance to see Faith Kipyegon run in the women’s 1500m, Emmanuel Wanyonyi in the men’s 800m, Phanuel Koech in the 1500m, and Mary Moraa in the women’s 800m. The four were allowed to skip the Kenyan trials due to their exemplary performances so far at the Diamond League circuit and for being the world defending champion, in the case of Moraa.

The battle for supremacy in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race brewed an exciting climax in the last lap as Edmund Serem and Simon Kiprop Koech cleared the water jump shoulder to shoulder with each other, intent and eager to cross the finish line first.

Having come from behind, Serem had greater momentum and ended up slightly ahead at the last bend. The gap between the two then stretched a little on the home straight as Serem went ahead to cross the finish line about two meters ahead.

With Serem only 17 and Koech 22, the two runners represent a future with hope for Kenya in their traditional event. 

Selectors added Abraham Kibiwot, the 2023 Budapest bronze medalist, to the team to add some experience to the mixture.

Interestingly, two double NCAA champions will represent Kenya in the women’s event. While Faith Cherotich ran a comfortable race alone at the front to win it, behind her was two-time NCAA champion, Doris Lemngole. Selectors also chose another double NCAA champion, Pamela Kosgei, during the naming of the team for Tokyo in this event. 

In the absence of Faith Kipyegon, who already has a wild card for being the defending champion in the women’s 1500m, Nelly Chepchirchir easily controlled the women’s 1500m race. She appeared relaxed as Susan Ejore kicked hard to close the gap in the last 100m of the race before the two crossed the finish line in a very close finish. Dorcas Ewoi, who finished third, got lucky to be named the fourth athlete on the team.

The men’s 1500m race was more thrilling and competitive. In a close finish, World champion and Olympic silver medalist, Timothy Cheruiyot, took control of the race just at the bell. But his kick could hardly break the rest of the field. Brian Komen came almost abreast with him in the last 20m as Reynold Cheruiyot engaged a new gear and overtook everyone to win the race. For a brief moment, everyone wondered who had taken the second position. Finally, Komen threw down the bottle of water he was holding in disappointment as Cheruiyot was lifted by his coach in celebration.

Due to his impressive season so far, Phanuel Koech, who didn’t run, was named to the final team.

The big names Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Mary Moraa did not run in the 800m races, which allowed the new emerging stars to enjoy glory at home.

In a competitive men’s 800m race, little-known Nikolas Kebenei led from the bell to win dominantly as Kelvin Loti finished second.

In the women’s race, African silver medalist Lilian Odira won ahead of Vivian Kiprotich and Sarah Moraa. The three made it to the four-member team courtesy of Moraa’s wild card as the defending champion.

New hope in the Sprints seen at the Kenyan Trials

Could Kenya’s future in Athletics be in the sprints?

There was an extraordinary coincidence for me at the Kenyan trials this year!

Just after the last event of the evening, the men’s 400m, I happened to bump into Mark Mutai, the Commonwealth 400m champion and African 4x400m champion, and Julius Yego, the Javelin World Champion, as they waited for the naming of the team for Tokyo. Our brief conversation touched lightly on the new star in the men’s 800m before shifting to the 400m and Kenya’s potential in the sprints. It was an insightful conversation following what had just happened, and looking at the sprinters representing Kenya at the World Championships this time.

Six Kenyan sprinters will represent Kenya in individual sprint events in Tokyo, and more will join them in the men’s 4x100m, 4x400m mixed, and 4x400m men’s relay.

Ferdinand Omanyala did not compete at the trials, but Africa’s fastest runner was the only sprinter to make the team in the 100m event.

Mercy Oketch, with her recent 400m national record of 50.14, will be the only female sprinter from Kenya. Mary Moraa already has the 400m qualification time after she ran 50.49 at the Stadion De Veen in Belgium on 19th July. However, even after running and winning the Kenyan trials, she opted to focus on the 800m event.

During the Kenyan national championships last month at the same venue, George Mutinda ran 44.51 to win the men’s 400m race ahead of Brian Tinega and Kevin Kipkorir, who finished second and third in 44.67 and 44.80, respectively. The three had achieved the qualification time of 44.85 in a single race. Their run at the trials didn’t change anything, as no one else was able to run the qualification mark.

Wiseman Were Mukhobe ran in the 400m flat but got named to the 400m hurdles, where he had already secured his qualification time of 48.34 at the Kip Keino Classic on 31 May.

Other sprinters named in the relays included Allan Kipyego, Boniface Mweresa, Zablon Ekwam, Dennis Masika Mulongo, David Kapirante, and Kelvin Tonui (4x400m); Steve Odhiambo, Meshack Babu, Mark Odhiambo, Dennis Mwai, Clinton Owatinya and Isaac Omurwa (4x100m), and Mercy Chebet, Lanoline Aoko and Esther Mbagari (women joining the 4x400m mixed relay).

The conditions at the trials were not the best for qualifying more sprinters, but their resolve to get those times made the sprints enjoyable to watch as they dived across the finish line. Those who were so close to achieving the times will surely be back into more structured training, hoping to do so ahead of the next world championships.

So, back to our conversation with Yego and Mutai, it was interesting to note how the best Kenyan runners and Olympians, such as David Rudisha, Janeth Jepkosgei, Wilson Kiprugut Chumo, Emmanuel Korir, and many others, realised their talents by running in the 400m. 

I could not help but wonder. Perhaps if there was no hurry among Kenyan sprinters to move up to the middle distances because of the pressure from some coaches and the need to follow in the footsteps of other middle-distance runners they had seen excel, the sprints, especially the 400m event, could be the most successful race for Kenya at the major global championships.

If the Kenyan sprinters return with good results from Tokyo, it will be a significant turning point in Kenyan athletics. The younger generation will finally know they don’t have to take up distance running just because they are Kenyans, and will stick to and develop in events where they discover their talents.

Field events

The “YouTube Man” is the only athlete to qualify for the World Championships, so far, in the field events. The 2015 World Champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist threw 87.72m at the Olympics last year to get the qualification mark.

Julius Yego had no competition at the Kenyan trials, and naming him into the team was just a formality.

Two women await their verdict on the World Rankings Quota. Irene Jepkemboi is currently in 38th place with a 1094 performance score for the women’s Javelin with a 60.31m throw. Winny Bii is 37th with a 1158 performance score on the World Rankings and has the best jump of 13.96m.

My verdict on the guaranteed medals

Like it was at the Paris Olympic Games, nothing has changed much in the fact that Kenyan women appear to stand a chance to win more medals, mainly the gold medals, compared to their male counterparts.

Beatrice Chebet, who holds both the 5000m and 10,000m world records and will run in both events, stands a good chance of winning two gold medals.

Agnes Ngetich will be one of the big runners to watch in the 10,000m event. A real duel between the world record holder for the 10K and the one for the 10,000m seemed to have been postponed to Tokyo when there appeared to have been just enough push to make the team by the two at the Kenyan trials.

There was a reason Faith Kipyegon, Phanuel Koech, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and Mary Moraa were exempted from participating in the Kenyan trials. The selectors might have made up their minds concerning them even before they ran, and this goes a long way toward showing their potential to medal.

About the Author

Justin Lagat is a Kenyan long-distance running coach, a freelance sports journalist, and a marathon runner.

While based in Eldoret, Kenya, he coaches runners from different countries around the world online. He has worked as a columnist with RunBlogRun since 2012.

Some of his work as a journalist has been featured in other international sports publications, including World Athletics, iRun Magazine, and African Sports Monthly magazine, among others.

Facebook Page: Justin Lagat
X (Twitter): @LagatJustin