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Kip Keino Classic: Brazil’s Da Silva topples champions in Javelin
Brazilian javelin thrower Luiz Maurício Dias da Silva in action during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex on May 31, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada settled for seventh with a 77.49m effort, while 2023 champion Timothy Herman of Germany placed eighth with 77.14m.
- Herman still holds the championship record of 87.35m from last year.
Brazilian Olympian, Luiz Mauricio da Silva, has heaped praises on Kenyan athletics fans for creating an electric atmosphere that propelled him to victory in the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Saturday.
The Brazilian prodigy threw 86.34 metres to win the men’s javelin competition in the Kenyan round of the 2025 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series. Afterwards, he thanked local fans for lending him support.
“It’s been a great experience coming back to Kenya. This is my second time here, and I feel this was a good competition for me with solid throws.
I am grateful to Kenya for the event you’ve put on, and for the whole atmosphere. Everyone in the crowd was cheering for me, and this is very positive during a competition,” he observed.
The 25-year-old won the title with his second throw, registering a new Personal Best at the Kenyan leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series.
The Brazilian won ahead of 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games champion, Thomas Rohler of Germany, who threw a distance of 80.79m, also a new personal best, for second place.
Rohler settled for second place with a throw of 80.62m last year, losing to Greek Gatis Cakss, who managed 81.74m.
Da Silva hopes to carry his red-hot form to the next competition as he aims to hit top form with an eye on the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
“Now, I need to prepare for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
I’m pleased with my performance today, and my goal for my next competition in Portugal is to maintain this form, especially throwing consistently like I did today, so that I achieve more personal bests or even an Area Record - like today, this throw is easily an Area Record for South America. I feel that I’m in the right shape for my next events,” he said.
Completing the podium places was Leandro Amos of Portugal, who threw 80.68m.
Kenyan Julius Yego in action in the javelin event during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex on May 31, 2025.
The 2015 world champion, Julius Yego of Kenya, who had hoped to upgrade his silver medal from the 2022 edition of Kip Keino Classic to gold, finished fifth in a season-best distance of 78.74m.
Two-time world champion, Anderson Peters from Grenada, settled for seventh with a throw of 77.49m as 2023 champion, Timothy Herman of Germany, managed 77.14 for eighth place. Herman holds the championship record of 87.35m from 2023.