Javelin legend Yego finishes fourth at Kip Keino Classic

Former world javelin champion Julius Yego Friday narrowly missed out on the podium at the 2026 Kip Keino Classic, finishing fourth as he opened his season with a performance he believes is a step in the right direction.

Yego managed a 79.87m throw in a stacked field, falling just short of the top three, but remained upbeat after competing in his first full run-up event following injury struggles last year.

“Of course, I wanted more than 79 metres, but that’s what came today… and I’m really excited,” said Yego.

The former champion pointed to technical inconsistencies as the key factor behind his result.

Despite missing the podium, the focus for the Kenyan star now shifts to the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana this May — a competition he hinted could mark the final chapter of his continental career.

“I want to retain the title and perhaps maybe it might be the last African Championship for me,” he revealed.

“I want to go there, enjoy the competition, take back the gold and come back home.”

Upfront, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage stole the show with a dominant display, unleashing a massive 89.28m throw to win the men’s javelin and set a new meeting record.

Germany’s Thomas Röhler, the 2016 Olympic champion, finished second with 83.33m, while South Africa’s Douw Smit claimed third place with a season-best 81.19m.

Yego also took time to praise the growth of the Kip Keino Classic, noting its rising global status and impact on upcoming Kenyan athletes.

“I think Kip Keino Classic is getting bigger… I think it’s one of the biggest gold level events and even bigger than some Diamond League meetings if you see the number of international athletes,” he said.

“It’s a good experience also for some of the young throwers in Kenya to see and learn about this kind of competition.”

Kenya’s other representative Boniface Kilonzo finished eighth with a 66.22m throw.

In the men’s shot put, George Malala successfully defended his national title with a throw of 16.22m, edging out Peter Mwangi (16.04m) and Leonard Bett (15.36m).

Despite the win, Malala admitted he is still chasing peak form.

“I have been struggling technically, and that is why I did not get a personal best today, but I thank God for the win. I have been struggling with an injury, which has bogged down my performances, but I aim to get the qualifying mark for the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“I will work on my technique and also improve my nutrition so that my form can improve.”