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Oketch smashes national 400m record, seals Tokyo slot

Mercy Oketch celebrates after winning the 400m race during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on May 31, 2025.

Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

By  Ayumba Ayodi

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

  • The 22-year-old Kenya Defence Forces athlete surged with incredible speed on the final bend to cross the finish line in 50.14 seconds at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Saturday.

Africa Military Games 400 metres silver medallist, Mercy Oketch from Kenya, has said her national record-breaking run in the 2025 Kip Keino Classic was down to perfect timing and a change of tack at the blocks.

On Saturday, the 22-year-old broke into a spirited run on the final bend of the one-lap race in the Kenyan round of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series at Ulinzi Sports Complex to win the race in a new Kenyan record of 50.14 seconds.

That performance was enough to secure her a slot at the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.

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Afterwards, Oketch attributed her victory to “many changes I have made in my running technique recently.”

“I have made many changes to my running style in recent days. For example, I have greatly improved my technique at the start.

I used to take off from the blocks while standing, but have worked on that and avoided the challenges I had been experiencing earlier. That played a role in my victory today,” Oketch observed.

Oketch’s winning time of 50.14 seconds was an improvement on her personal best. She broke the previous national record of 50.38 seconds set by world 800m champion Mary Moraa at the 2023 Kenya National Athletics Championships.

That performance saw 22-year-old Oketch also qualify to compete in the 400m at the World Athletics Championships, having surpassed the set standard time of 50.75 seconds.

“It was my plan to break the national record and make the world championships, and I did just that… It wasn’t easy, though. It through hard work and consistency to win,” the Kenya Defence Forces athlete said.

Oketch is fresh from winning the bronze medal in the 4x400m mixed relay at the 2025 World Relays in China on May 10 and 11.