U.S. sprint star Gabby Thomas set the track alight with a magical 100-200m double at the Kip Keino Classic 2026 in Nairobi on Friday (24 April).
Thomas dropped the mic in the half-lap sprint event, becoming the first woman to breach 22 seconds on Kenyan soil, storming across the finish in a world lead of 21.89. She shaved 0.18 off the previous meeting record set by former world champion Sha’Carri Richardson in 2023.
The American has been enjoying her African safari, adding to her sprint double from Addis Ababa last weekend in a return to form after cutting her 2025 campaign short due to injury.
The 29-year-old had to fight off the tenacious Cambrea Sturgis, who matched the three-time Olympic champion’s every step as they entered the straight.
Thomas managed to pip Sturgis to the line, with her countrywoman finishing second in a personal best of 21.93. Setting a lifetime best, Kenya’s Milicent Ndoro rounded out the podium in a time of 23.21.
Earlier, Thomas wore a big smile after flaunting her top-end speed in the 100m to get her evening off to a winning start, flirting with a sub-11-second time.
Slow out of the blocks, Thomas found her groove as she came out of the drive phase, finishing with a flourish in a time of 11.01 seconds.
The reigning Olympic 200m champion is yet to dip below 11 seconds in the short-sprint event, coming painstakingly close to breaching the barrier twice this season.
Thomas stopped the clock on 11.00 in Texas at the beginning of April before coming close again here in Nairobi.
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read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/athletics-olympic-champion-gabby-thomas-sweeps-sprints-nairobi