Gathimba, Oketch lead title defence charge as AK circuit hits Thika

The 2018 Commonwealth Games 20km race walk bronze medallist, Samuel Gathimba and reigning national 400m champion Mercy Oketch will be out to defend their Thika crowns when the second leg of the 2026 Athletics Kenya Track and Field Circuit blasts off today at Thika Stadium.

During last year’s Thika meet, Gathimba stamped his authority in the 10,000m race walk, producing a commanding victory after stopping the clock at 41:44.7. Heristone Wanyonyi settled for second in 42:40.6, while Stephen Ndangiri completed the podium in 42:55.2.

Gathimba is bullish about his chances of successfully defending his title, insisting the groundwork has been laid for a strong showing.

“I will be competing in Thika, and I hope to defend my title because I have been training hard,” Gathimba told the Star.

The seasoned race walker heads into the meeting eager to rediscover top gear and ignite what he hopes will be a dominant 2026 campaign after a heartbreaking 2025 season.

Last year, Gathimba narrowly missed out on a place in Kenya’s World Championships team to Tokyo after failing to hit the 1:19:20 qualifying mark in the 20km race walk, clocking 1:23:57 during the national trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

He has underlined the importance of starting the new season on a winning note, viewing the opening AK meetings as critical checkpoints.

“This meeting is a very important one because it will act as a form gauge to show me where my body is,” he said.

Gathimba will once again lock horns with familiar foes Wanyonyi and Ndangiri as he seeks to assert early dominance in the race walk ranks.

Meanwhile, Oketch will be keen to stamp her authority in the women’s 400m and defend her Thika title after a breakout 2025 campaign that elevated her onto the global stage.

At last year’s Thika meet, Oketch powered to victory in 54.3, holding off Vanice Kerubo (54.6) and Rahab Ndirangu (54.8). The 23-year-old arrives in Thika riding the momentum of a strong 2025 campaign.

She was part of Kenya’s mixed 4x400m relay team, alongside David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet and Brian Tinega, that clinched bronze at the World Relays Championships in Guangzhou, China.

Her season further glittered at home when she stole the show at the Kip Keino Classic, storming to victory in the women’s 400m national race in a blistering 50.14.

On the international circuit, Oketch impressed with a runner-up finish (50.91) at the Czeslaw Cybulski Memorial in Poland, victory at the Marseille meeting (50.89), second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix (50.69) and a win at the Brussels Diamond League Invitational 400m event in 51.26.

She also earned her stripes on the world stage at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she bowed out in the semifinals after clocking 51.36 for seventh place in her heat.

In Thika, Oketch will face stiff opposition from 2024 national champion Mercy Chebet. Veteran sprinter Boniface Mweresa will also be in action, revealing plans to double up in the 200m and 400m races as he begins his season. “This is the first event of the new season, so it will be key in just gauging where the body is and seeing what I need to improve on,” Mweresa said. 

“I will be running both the 200m and 400m events.”

At last year’s Thika meeting, the 2015 African 400m silver medallist rolled back the years to win the 100m, clocking 10.1 seconds, ahead of youngsters Dennis Mwai and Isaac Omurwa, who both timed 10.2. However, Mweresa insists he is approaching the meeting with measured expectations. “I really don’t have many expectations going into the meeting. The main aim is just seeing how the body responds,” he said.

In the men’s 800m, Obadiah Kipleting will be hoping to defend his Thika crown after last year’s win in 1:48.4, ahead of David Toroitich (1:48.7) and Dominic Berngetun (1:49.0). The women’s 100m promises fireworks as three-time national champion Esther Mbagari renews her rivalry with veteran sprinter Millicent Ndoro.

At last year’s showdown, Ndoro edged Mbagari to gold in 11.6 seconds, with Mbagari settling for second in 11.8, setting the stage for another high-octane sprint duel in Thika.