Nelly Chepchirchir, one of Kenya’s rising middle-distance stars, added another remarkable achievement to her impressive season by breaking the course record in the 800m at the Zagreb Meeting. The Kenyan sensation clocked an outstanding time of 1:57.00, outpacing a strong field that included Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin and Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew, who finished second and third with times of 1:57.43 and 1:57.47, respectively.
This victory came just weeks after Chepchirchir set a world-leading time in the 1,000m at the Silesia Diamond League, cementing her place among the world’s top middle-distance runners. In Zagreb, Chepchirchir once again showcased her dominance, demonstrating the grit and talent that have propelled her to the upper echelons of the sport.
Her compatriots, Vivian Chebet and Lilian Odira, also competed in the 800m race, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Chebet crossed the line in 1:58.26, while Odira clocked 1:58.90. Despite not making the podium, their performances contributed to a strong showing for Kenya in the race.
Pushing Through Fatigue to Set a New Mark
Chepchirchir’s performance in Zagreb was all the more remarkable considering the fatigue she was still feeling from her recent race in Silesia. Reflecting on her win, the Kenyan runner admitted that she had not anticipated running such a fast time due to the toll her previous race had taken on her body.
“I was still feeling the fatigue from my race in Poland, so I wasn’t expecting to run this fast,” she confessed after the race. “I hadn’t fully recovered, and I didn’t feel as strong, but I’m very happy with the result.”
Her fatigue, however, did not prevent her from executing a strong race strategy, staying within striking distance of the leaders before making her decisive move. Her ability to dig deep and push through exhaustion to secure a new personal best is a testament to her resilience and determination.
Chepchirchir’s previous victory came at the Silesia Diamond League on August 25, where she stunned the field with a world-leading time of 2:31.24 in the 1,000m. In that race, she finished ahead of Britain’s Jemma Reekie, who clocked 2:32.56, and World 800m champion Mary Moraa, who finished in 2:33.43.
While Chepchirchir was elated with her new personal best in Zagreb, she revealed that the race would be her final 800m of the season. “This is my last 800m for the year, and now I’m focusing on my preparations for 2025,” she said, signaling her intent to shift her focus toward future competitions.
Facing Stiff Competition
Despite her dominant performance, Chepchirchir acknowledged the strength of the competition in Zagreb, particularly from Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin, a seasoned 800m runner with numerous accolades to her name.
“I wasn’t expecting to win, especially seeing Natoya on the start list,” Chepchirchir admitted. “She’s a very strong competitor, and I thought she might have the upper hand in this race. But the atmosphere and the crowd here were amazing, and it pushed me to give my best.”
Chepchirchir’s respect for her competitors and her humility in victory have earned her admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike. Her ability to rise to the occasion, even when facing formidable opponents, underscores her growing stature in the world of middle-distance running.
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Zagreb
In addition to Chepchirchir’s triumph, the Zagreb Meeting featured several other standout performances by Kenyan athletes. African 800m silver medalist Alex Ngeno competed in the men’s 1,000m but missed out on the podium, finishing in fifth place with a time of 2:16.12. The race was won by Canada’s Marco Arop, who set a blistering pace and crossed the finish line in 2:13.13. He was followed by USA’s Jonah Koech (2:15.15) and the Netherlands’ Stefan Nillessen (2:15.78), who claimed second and third, respectively.
Kenya’s Daniel Munguti also had a strong showing in the men’s 2,000m race, finishing in sixth place with a time of 4:56.24. Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli took the win in 4:54.29, while USA’s Cooper Teare (4:55.42) and Johnathan Reniewicki (4:55.54) rounded out the podium in second and third.
Omanyala Falls Just Short in 100m
Meanwhile, Africa’s sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala delivered a solid performance in the men’s 100m, finishing second behind USA’s Courtney Lindsey. Lindsey took the win with a time of 9.97 seconds, while Omanyala clocked 10.02 to take the runner-up spot. Britain’s Romell Glave finished third with a time of 10.11 seconds.
Though Omanyala missed out on first place, his consistent performances on the international stage continue to establish him as one of Africa’s premier sprinters.
Looking Ahead
As the 2023 track season winds down, Nelly Chepchirchir can look back on a year filled with achievements, including world-leading times, personal bests, and course records. With her focus now shifting toward 2025, fans and competitors alike will be eager to see what the future holds for this talented Kenyan athlete.
For now, Chepchirchir’s victory in Zagreb stands as a fitting capstone to an incredible season—one that has firmly established her as a force to be reckoned with in middle-distance running.
