Kelvin Kipkorir in a previous event/ FILE400m specialist Kelvin Kipkorir has trained his gaze firmly on the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a spirited 2025 campaign.
Kipkorir has been an integral cog in Kenya’s one-lap engine, anchoring both the individual 400m and the national 4x400m relay squad with consistency.
At the Tokyo World Championships in September, the 31-year-old earned double qualification, securing lanes in both his individual event and the men’s relay.
However, Tokyo proved a stern test as he bowed out in the heats in his individual 400m event after clocking 45.39 for sixth place.
The relay quartet of Kipkorir, George Mutinda, David Sanayek and Dennis Masika also fell short of the semifinals, timing 3:00.76 for fourth in their heat.
Kipkorir insists that his 2025 exploits have laid a strong foundation for a bolder assault in 2026.
“2025 was a great season for me. Competing in Tokyo gave me a lot of experience because I was up against world-class athletes,” he said.
“It showed me the areas I need to focus on and sharpen as the 2026 season approaches.”
His next big target is punching his ticket to the Commonwealth Games set for Glasgow, Scotland.
“The biggest focus for 2026 now is to make the team for the Commonwealth Games in the 400m,” he noted.
Beyond the Commonwealth Games, Kipkorir has the African Championships circled on his calendar.
“We also have the Africa Championships, which is another event I want to ensure I qualify for because I was there last year.”
In 2024, he featured at the African Senior Championships in both the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay.
He reached the semifinals in the 400m, clocking 46.01 for fifth place, while the relay squad of Kipkorir, Kelvin Tauta, Brian Tinega and Sanayek stormed to silver in 3:02.34, just two-hundredths of a second behind Botswana.
The first major test for Kenyan sprinters in 2026 will be the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, slated for March.
Kipkorir believes Team Kenya can mount a strong charge.
“I believe we have a very strong team, especially the men. If we go to Botswana, we can produce good results,” he said.
“Our performance in Tokyo wasn’t very good because the team that gave us strong results at the World Relays in China was not the same one that ran in Tokyo. The coaches were reserving athletes for the finals.”
For now, Kipkorir’s full training load is on pause as he wraps up his paramilitary course with Kenya Prisons.
“I am still in my paramilitary training for Kenya Prisons. I have just two months left. “Once I am done with the college training, we will sit down with my coach and start setting targets for the upcoming season.”
