Nene aiming to bounce back in Nairobi

SA’s 400m star Zakithi Nene will be confident of setting the record straight when he lines up for the one-lap event at the Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, Kenya today.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The in-form 27-year-old sprinter took second position at last weekend’s Diamond League meeting in Rabat, in 44.46 seconds.

He looked on track for the win but was chased down on the home straight by American Jacory Patterson, who clocked 44.37. Olympic champion Quincy Hall took third in 44.90.

Nene set a personal best time of 44.22 at the SA championships in Potchefstroom in April.

He will headline another strong field today that will include Africa Games champion Chidi Okezie and Australia’s Cooper Sherman and Portugal’s Joao Coelho.

Former national 400m champion Zablon Ekwam, who boasts a personal best of 44.69, is among the local runners who could pose an outside threat to the South African in their backyard, however. Nene’s performances so far this year have deservedly earned him top billing in Kenya, including his starring role in SA’s 4X400m gold at the recent World Relays in Guangzhou, China with a world lead 2:57.50.