Kenya’s Mercy Oketch has broken the Kenyan women’s 300m record with a world-leading time of 35.77 seconds at the 2026 Simbine Classic in Pretoria, South Africa.
The Simbine Classic, making its debut as the first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting hosted in South Africa, provided an electrifying atmosphere for the record-breaking performance.
Oketch’s Tuesday record reaffirms her status as one of the most promising sprinters on the continent.
Her achievement places her at the top of Kenya’s all-time list for the women’s 300m, ahead of Damaris Mutunga (37.80), Maureen Jelagat Maiyo (39.31), Gladys Chepngetich (39.55), and Rukia Nusra Omulisia (40.15).
The 300m, though a non-standard distance, is often used to test an athlete’s speed endurance and transition between the 200m and 400m events.
