Reigning African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie is gearing up for a sensational showing at this Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, set to take place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
The Nigerian sprinter has his sights firmly set on one thing—clocking a blistering time.
“Expect something very fast… a highly competitive race,” Okezie promised.
“I’m putting everything on the line because qualifying for Tokyo (World Championships) is the ultimate goal. I’m aiming to run under 44.80 seconds.”
The American-born athlete will face a world-class field, including 4x400m World Relays champion Zak Nene of South Africa, Australia’s Sherman Cooper—the World Relays 4x400m silver medalist—and U.S. World Indoor silver medalist Brian Faust.
Despite the elite competition, Okezie insists his true rival is the clock.
“My biggest competition is the timer. I don’t focus on who’s in the race. When I step on the track, I believe I’m the best out there. It’s just me versus the time,” he said confidently.
Born to a Nigerian father and Jamaican mother, the 31-year-old began his athletics journey under the U.S. flag, winning gold with the American 4x400m team at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
He switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2016, debuting at the World Indoor Championships in Portland, where he finished 15th in the men’s 400m heats with a time of 47.05 seconds.
He also helped Nigeria’s 4x400m relay team to a fifth-place finish in the final.
Since then, Okezie has built an impressive resume representing Nigeria, securing bronze medals at the 2018 African Championships in Asaba, the 2022 edition in Reduit, Mauritius, and at the 2023 African Games in Accra, all in the 4x400m relay.
Reflecting on his journey, Okezie says switching allegiances was a matter of pride and heritage.
“I chose Nigeria for my name’s sake. Also, Nigeria has a rich history in the 400m. It’s the home of greats, and I want to be part of that legacy.”
Okezie has already had a busy 2025 season, competing in five races. His most recent outing was at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, where he finished third with a time of 45.46 seconds.
The Kip Keino Classic will mark his second African meet this year, following his appearance at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix last month, where he clocked 45.15 to finish fourth.
As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on Okezie to see if he can turn promise into performance—and punch his ticket to the World Championships.
