Yego throws a season best to win Motonet Grand Prix

Competing in wet and chilly conditions, the 2015 world champion threw a season-best 82.95m to take top honours at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting.

He finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott (79.98m) and home favourite Taneli Juutinen (78.24m).

“I’m pleased with the progress,” Yego said. “It was a rainy night  not the best conditions  but hitting a season best shows I’m on the right track.”

The win in Lahti was a solid rebound from his fifth-place finish at last month’s Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, where he registered a 78.74m effort in front of his home crowd.

That day, Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva shocked the field with a world-leading 86.34m throw to take gold, while Germany’s Olympic champion Thomas Röhler and Portugal’s Leandro Ramos completed the podium.

But for Yego, who turns 37 this year, the fire is still burning.

“Step by step, brick by brick  the wall is being built. That 82.95m was timely. I planned this season to peak later, and I believe Tokyo will come at the right moment. The journey is on course,” added Yego.

Yego’s personal best stands at 92.72m  an African and Kenyan record set in 2015. Despite the years, he’s not done chasing greatness.

“I’ll only hang up my spikes when my body says it’s time. Until then, I’m still young in spirit. I still dream of breaking my personal best and joining the 90m-plus club again.”

The current world record remains 98.48m, set by Czech legend Jan Železný in 1996.