logo
Zakithi Nene beats personal best time, clocking 43. 76 in dominant 400m at Kip Keino Classic

Zakithi Nene beats personal best time, clocking 43. 76 in dominant 400m at Kip Keino Classic

IOL News31-05-2025
The in-form Zakithi Nene (centre) is the headline act in the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, where he broke his PB on Saturday. | BackpagePix
South Africa's one-lap star Zakithi Nene stormed to a world leading time this year of 43.76 seconds, smashing his personal best, in winning the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday afternoon.
The sprint sensation finally delivered on the threat to run a sub-44-second time in an individual race, having already done so in the 4X400m relay earlier this year.
He also quickly put behind him last week's Rabat Diamond League disappointment, when he was pipped to the line by American Jacory Patterson. Before Saturday's race, the American had also held the world-leading time this year.
There would be no close finish this time as Nene flew out of the blocks in typical fashion and only grew stronger as the race wore on. He finished more than a second ahead of Nigeria's Africa Games champion Chidi Okezie (44.98), while local runner Zablon Ekwam finished in third (45.01).
Nene's coach, Victor Vaz, had predicted a "comfortable win" for his charge in the build-up to the race that is part of the World Athletics Continental tour. Yet even he could not not have imagined such an emphatic response to last weekend's disappointment.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SA rower Kerry Grundlingh killed in Johannesburg cycling accident
SA rower Kerry Grundlingh killed in Johannesburg cycling accident

The South African

time21 hours ago

  • The South African

SA rower Kerry Grundlingh killed in Johannesburg cycling accident

The South African and international sporting communities are mourning the tragic death of Kerry Grundlingh, a talented young rower and economics student at Princeton University, who died in a cycling accident while visiting Johannesburg during her summer break. Grundlingh, 21, was struck by a car while cycling in her hometown. The incident was confirmed by both Princeton Athletics and her alma mater, St Mary's School, Waverley, where she matriculated in 2022. 'Kerry lost her life in a cycling accident while visiting family and friends in Johannesburg during the American university summer holidays,' the school said in a statement. Grundlingh had distinguished herself both academically and athletically. As a member of Princeton's open water rowing team, she was a two-time Ivy League medallist and competed at the NCAA Championships in both her freshman and sophomore years. In 2024, she was part of the second varsity eight that took bronze at the Ivy League Championships and later finished sixth at the NCAAs. This year, she rowed in the first varsity eight, winning gold at Ivies and securing victory in the Petite Final at NCAAs. 'She leaves a legacy of her life lived as a tremendous daughter, sister, friend and teammate,' said Princeton head coach Lori Dauphiny. 'Kerry constantly gave the best of herself for the betterment of others in every daily interaction. All of us in the Princeton rowing community send our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to her parents, Debbie and Francois, her brother James, and all her family and friends around the globe.' Grundlingh also represented South Africa at the World Rowing Championships, earning widespread respect for her discipline, dedication, and quiet leadership. In a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, Rowing South Africa said she had left 'an unfillable space in those who had the honour of knowing her,' highlighting her dry sense of humour, infectious laugh, and deep commitment to high performance. Friends, coaches, and team-mates have remembered Grundlingh as a quiet force, a gifted athlete, and a warm, humble presence both on and off the water. 'The world has lost an amazing young woman,' Princeton's Dauphiny said. Post your condolences below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Cycling accident claims life of top achiever Kerry Grundlingh
Cycling accident claims life of top achiever Kerry Grundlingh

TimesLIVE

timea day ago

  • TimesLIVE

Cycling accident claims life of top achiever Kerry Grundlingh

A former Johannesburg resident studying at Princeton University in the US, Kerry Grundlingh, died in a cycling accident in her home town after being struck by a car. This was confirmed by Princeton Athletics. St Mary's school in Waverley, where she passed matric with eight distinctions in 2022, said: 'Kerry lost her life in a cycling accident while visiting family and friends in Johannesburg during the American university summer holidays.' Grundlingh represented South Africa at the world rowing championships. Row SA posted a tribute to her on Facebook, saying she had a profound impact on her classmates, teammates, coaches and friends. 'This devastating loss has left an unfillable space in those who had the honour of knowing Kerry [and who] fondly remember her dry sense of humour and infectious laugh, and her quiet leadership and deep commitment to high performance.' 'The world has lost an amazing young woman,' Princeton Athletics head coach Lori Dauphiny said of the open rowing student-athlete. 'She leaves a legacy of her life lived as a tremendous daughter, sister, friend and teammate who constantly gave the best of herself for the betterment of others in every daily interaction. All of us in the Princeton rowing community send our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Kerry's parents, Debbie and Francois, her brother, James, and all her family and friends around the globe.' During her two years competing for the Tigers, Grundlingh was a two-time medallist at the Ivy League Championships and twice rowed at the NCAA Championships. In 2024 she was part of the bronze medal-winning second varsity eight at the Ivies who went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Championships. This past season Grundlingh was part of the first varsity eight who won gold at the Ivy League Championship before winning the Petite Final at NCAAs.

McIntosh makes golden start as Australia win world relay double
McIntosh makes golden start as Australia win world relay double

eNCA

time2 days ago

  • eNCA

McIntosh makes golden start as Australia win world relay double

Teenage phenomenon Summer McIntosh captured gold in ominous fashion on the opening day of the world swimming championships on Sunday as Australia claimed a relay double in Singapore. The 18-year-old Canadian launched her packed programme with a dominant performance in the women's 400m freestyle, romping home in 3min 56.26sec, nearly two seconds clear of China's Li Bingjie, who was followed by American great Katie Ledecky in bronze. It was world record holder McIntosh's first world title in the event as she pursues five individual golds in Singapore. With Australia's Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus skipping the championships before she prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the race was billed as a showdown between McIntosh and Ledecky. But McIntosh grasped control early on and streaked further ahead as the race progressed. "I think the 400 freestyle in past world championships and Olympics, I haven't been at my best and I haven't been where I want to be," she said. "So to finally stand on the centre of the podium is promising for the rest of the meet." AFP | François-Xavier MARIT McIntosh, who broke three world records at the Canadian trials in the lead-up to the worlds, jumped straight back into the pool for the 200m medley semi-finals 20 minutes after winning gold. She qualified for the final with the fastest time, saying she was "in the best shape of my life". "Now I just have to act on that and put it into all of my races," she added. McIntosh was joined in Monday's 200m IM final by Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi. The schoolgirl, who juggles swimming with homework, squeezed into the final. "I'm in? Oh, I'm happy about that and I will continue to work harder," she said. "I hope to find a breakthrough at these world championships and show my potential." - Maertens pips Short - Germany's Lukas Maertens won a nail-biting gold in the men's 400m freestyle, pipping Australia's Sam Short by 0.02sec. Maertens, the Olympic champion and world record holder, became world champion in the event for the first time. German compatriot Florian Wellbrock won four golds in the open water events in Singapore and Maertens said their country had taken a "big step forward". AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA "All the girls and guys are a really young team and there are a lot to come," he said. "Now I'm one of the old guys and I'm 23. That means a lot and I'm really proud to be in the German team." Maertens came home in 3min 42.35sec after a fierce battle with Short, the 2023 world champion. South Korea's Kim Woo-min, the reigning world champion, was third. Maertens was the favourite after breaking the world record in Stockholm in April, a mark that had stood since 2009. But Short fought him every stroke of the way, losing out after an incredible tussle to the finish. "There was a lot of pressure, also as the world record holder, it wasn't easy to fight these guys," said Maertens. Australia ended the opening night on a high after both their women's and men's teams won the 4x100m freestyle relays. The women's team of Mollie O'Callaghan, Meg Harris, Milla Jansen and Olivia Wunsch came home ahead of the United States, with the Netherlands third. Flynn Southam, Kai James Taylor, Maximillian Giuliani and Kyle Chalmers then completed the double, finishing ahead of Italy and the Americans in the men's race. Their winning time of 3:08.97 was a world championship record. "We've come together really well in camp and preparation -- we believed we could do it and we did it," said Chalmers. - US hit with illness - The US team is battling a stomach bug in the camp, with two competitors skipping their opening races. Torri Huske, a treble gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics, and 18-year-old Claire Weinstein did not compete "so they could focus on other events", team official Nikki Warner told AFP. "Our team experienced acute gastroenteritis," Warner said. "No one has pulled out of the competition." Huske later competed in the relay final. By Andrew Mckirdy

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store