Ekwam tells African sprint rivals to brace for Accra showdown

Reigning national 200m champion Zablon Ekwam has fired an early warning to Africa’s sprint elite, telling them to brace for a storm when the African Athletics Championships roar to life from May 12–18 in Accra, Ghana.

Ekwam has steadily carved out a reputation as one of Kenya’s most dependable sprinters over the 200m and 400m, becoming a consistent presence on both the local, continental and even global sprint scene.

The hard-charging sprinter believes the time has come to stamp his authority on the African stage by taking the fight to traditional sprint powerhouses like Botswana and South Africa.

In an exclusive interview with the Star, Ekwam delivered a bold message to his rivals across the continent. “In any race I line up, I don’t go there just to compete, I go there to win. My immediate target now is the African Championships, and African sprinters should be very afraid of the storm I will bring,” Ekwam declared.

The 28-year-old insists he is unfazed by the calibre of athletes he is likely to face, noting that he has already tested himself against some of Africa’s finest sprinters.

“I am not afraid of anybody. I have run with the likes of Bayapo Ndori of Botswana and Zakithi Nene at the Kip Keino Classic. I have also raced against Ferdinand Omanyala and beaten him. I am not afraid of anyone,” he added.

Ekwam first crossed paths with Ndori at the 2024 Kip Keino Classic, where the Botswana star stormed to victory in 44.10 while Ekwam finished fourth in 44.69 in a fiercely contested 400m race.

He later lined up against South Africa’s Nene at the 2025 edition of the same meet, clocking 45.01 to finish third as Nene blazed to victory in 43.76.

Ekwam, however, turned the tables at the 2025 National Championships, producing a blistering run to outgun Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, over the 200m, to claim the national crown in 20.47 with Omanyala settling for second in 20.53.

The Kenyan speedster has already hinted at what could be a breakthrough season after opening his campaign with a commanding performance at the Egypt Winter Cup on February 23.

Competing in the 300m, Ekwam powered to victory in 34.00, leaving Ethiopians Zeyad Mohamed (34.47) and Saleh Omran (34.93) trailing in his wake.

“Winning a Continental Tour race is not easy. That victory was just a statement to my rivals. I mean business this year,” he said.

The Kenyan sprinter has revealed plans to attempt an ambitious double in the 200m and 400m at the continental showpiece in Accra.

However, first he must secure his place on Team Kenya at the Athletics Kenya Trials scheduled for April 9–11 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

“I want to double in both the 200m and 400m at the African Championships in May. That is my big target for now,” Ekwam said.

Still, the final call will depend on guidance from his coaching team.

“I have to wait and see what my coach tells me because we had already prepared for both races. But now that AK has moved the trials, I will have to keep myself fit and see if I will still be ready to double come the trials,” he explained.

Athletics Kenya had initially slated the trials for March 26–28, but pushed the dates forward to assemble the strongest possible squad for the continental championships.

Beyond continental ambitions, Ekwam is also targeting global glory at the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled for July 23 to August 2.

“The big target for the season is the Commonwealth Games. I still don’t know which race I will be taking part in, but by May, after the African Championships, I will know where to focus,” he said.