Athletics Kenya lauds athletes’ impressive performance in Poland Championship
Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director Barnabas Korir has lauded the exceptional talent demonstrated by Kenyan athletes on the first day of the World Indoor Championship in Poland this Friday, March 20, 2026.
In a statement via his official Facebook page, Korir singled out Noah Kibet, whose dominant run from start to finish in the men’s 800 m heats saw him clinch victory.
Exceptional talents
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“Day 1 of the World Indoor Championships 2026 has once again demonstrated the exceptional talent of Kenyan athletes on the global stage,” part of Korir’s congratulatory message read.
“Congratulations to Noah Kibet for his brilliant performance in the 800m heat, advancing smoothly to the semifinals. Your tactical intelligence and determination make Kenya proud.
Among the standout performances for the Day One event was that of Noah Kibet, who won the men’s 800m in heat 6 to qualify for the semi-final.
The race from 21-year-old Kibet was particularly eye-catching as the rising star showed tactical leads and remarkable grit to finish first at the Tauron Arena Krakow, ahead of Maciej Wyderka, Sean Dolan, Ryan Clarke, and James Harding in the middle-distance race.
In other successful races of the day, Brian Tinega clocked 46.21 to finish second in the men’s 400m heat 5 and qualify for the semifinals.
Tinega finished second behind Canadian sprinter Christopher Williams.
His composed run followed after Mercy Oketch, the reigning national 400 m record holder, also advanced to the Women’s 400 m semifinals after an impressive run of 51.57 s, earning her a second-place finish in Heat 6.
The athlete, boasting an outdoor personal best of 50.14 s set in 2025 at the Kip Keino Classic, managed to get over the line for the qualifiers with the time.
Korir also reserved praises for the budding pair of Gladys Chepngetich and Rosemary Longisa, who, despite their spirited exploits, failed to advance to the semifinals of their 400 m heats.
Longisa settled for a fifth-place finish against a star-studded field comprising the world record holder, Keely Hodgkinson, who won the heat.
The two are US-based students at Clemson University and Washington State University, respectively.
“I also want to recognise students Gladys Chepngetich (Clemson University), Rosemary Longisa (Washington State University) and Brian Tinega (Texas Tech) for putting their best feet forward. “All the best,” his statement added.
