Kibet to lead Kenya’s charge at World Indoor Championships in Poland

An image of Noah Kibet.

Kenya’s 2022 world indoor 800m champion Noah Kibet will headline the country’s team at the World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled for March 20–22 in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.

The Iten-based runner said he has been preparing intensively for the competition and is optimistic about posting a strong performance on the global stage.

“I have been preparing well for this race and hopeful for good results,” Kibet said.

Kibet first made his mark internationally when he won bronze at the World Athletics U20 Championships before securing silver at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.

World Athletics has allocated Kenya six slots for the championships, with the country seeking to add to its historical tally at the event. Kenya has won 42 medals in the competition’s history — 10 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze.

Among those joining Kibet is Brian Tinega, currently studying at the University of Texas, who will compete in the men’s 400 metres.

Tinega holds a personal best of 45.06 seconds and last month set a Kenyan indoor milestone after clocking 45.68 seconds to finish second at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Texas.

He has previously represented Kenya on the global stage, including at the World Athletics Championships and the World Athletics Relays in China.

Also bringing experience to the team is Jacob Krop, the 24-year-old silver medallist in the 5000 metres at the World Athletics Championships.

Krop, whose personal best over the distance stands at 12:45.71, will aim to translate his outdoor success into a podium finish indoors in Poland.

In the women’s events, Mercy Oketch will lead Kenya’s sprint challenge in the 400 metres, while Rosemary Longisa is set to compete in the women’s 800 metres.

Completing the women’s team is experienced middle-distance runner Susan Lokayo Ejore, who will represent Kenya in the 1500 metres.

Oketch, a member of the Kenya Defence Forces, holds the Kenyan national record in the 400 metres with 50.14 seconds, set at the Kip Keino Classic.

Her strong form continued last month when she became the first Kenyan woman to run under 52 seconds indoors, clocking 51.53 seconds at the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlélor in France.

Oketch also represented Kenya at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, where she advanced to the women’s 400m semifinals.

Longisa, 20, studies at Washington State University and continues to rise steadily in the middle-distance ranks.
Meanwhile Ejore brings Olympic-level experience, having run a lifetime best of 3:56.07 in the 1500 metres during her sixth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Nakuru-born runner began her athletics journey at St. Gabriel’s Mission School before relocating to the United States for college.