NAIROBI, Kenya, May 27, 2025 – African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie has promised a spectacular performance at this Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Okezie says posting a lightning fast time is the core thing on his mind when he steps on the tartan track.
“From me, I think you should expect something very fast…very competitive race. I am putting everything on the line because Tokyo (World Championships) is the main goal. My goal is go under 44.80 (qualification mark for the men’s 400m),” the Nigerian said.
The American-born sprinter will be lining up at the starting blocks alongside 4x400m World Relays champion Zak Nene (South Africa), World Relay 4x400m silver medalist Sherman Cooper (Australia) and World Indoor silver medalist Brian Faust of the United States, among others.
The pedigree of his competitors notwithstanding, Okezie says he is not losing sleeping about them rather is worried about the timer.
“The timer is my biggest competition. I don’t really look at who else is in the race. I believe that whenever I am on the track, I am the best athlete on the track so that is what I look…me and the time,” he said.
Born to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother, the 31-year-old started out in American colours, winning gold with the 4x400m relay team at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.
He then made his international debut for his father’s birthplace at 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland, United States and finished 15th in the preliminary stages of the men’s 400m – clocking 47.05.
He was also part of the men’s 4x400m relay team that finished fifth in the final after running 3:08.55.
Since then, it has been a commendable harvest for the sprinter who boasts two bronze medals from the 2018 African Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, bronze from the 2022 African Championships (Reduit, Mauritius) and one more bronze from last year’s African Games in Accra Ghana for the men’s 4x400m relay team.
Reflecting on his progress thus far, Okezie is glad to have exchanged the red singlet of the U.S. for the green of Nigeria.
“I chose to run for Nigeria for my name’s sake. Also, when looking at the rich culture of Nigeria…the home of the greats when it comes to the 400m. I wanted to put my name on that list,” he said.
Okezie has been a busy man since the turn of the year, having already competed in five races.
His latest competition was at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, United States, where he clocked 45.46 to finish third in the men’s 400m.
The Kip Keino Classic will be his second competition in Africa this year after running at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April last year.
On that occasion, he clocked 45.15 to finish fourth in the men’s 400m.
