Noah Kibet to feature at Czech Indoor Gala in Ostrava

Kenya’s 2022 World Indoor silver medalist Noah Kibet will be among a star-studded field at tonight’s Czech Indoor Gala in Ostrava, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting.

The 21-year-old Kibet kicks off his 2026 indoor season as he builds towards the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, next month.

With Athletics Kenya confirming there will be no trials for team selection, Kibet will use the meet to catch the eyes of the selectors.

The men’s 800m promises a thrilling contest, featuring 2025 European Indoor gold medalist Samuel Chapple of the Netherlands, Ireland’s Mark English, who recently set a national short-track record of 1:44.65, and Poland’s Filip Ostrowski, who ran a personal best of 1:44.68 in Boston last week.

Kibet has a strong international record. In 2022 in Belgrade, he finished second in 1:46.35 behind Spaniard Mariano García, who won gold in 1:46.20, while American Bryce Hoppel claimed bronze in 1:46.51.

Kenya’s 800m hopes at last year’s World Indoors in Nanjing ended at the semi-final stage, with Lilian Odira, Alex Ngeno Kipngetich, and Kibet all eliminated.

This year, the country is also looking to world silver medalist Dorcus Ewoi, who impressed at the 2026 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston with a world-leading 1500m time of 4:01.22.

Fast-rising Gladys Chepngetich has joined elite company by running under two minutes in the indoor 800m, clocking a stunning 1:58.81 at the 2026 John Thomas Terrier Classic—becoming only the third Kenyan woman to achieve the feat after Pamela Jelimo and Vivian Chebet.

At the Millrose Games, Festus Lagat ran 3:50.94 to finish sixth in the mile, passing 1500m in 3:35.20. Lagat clocked 3:50.94 in the mile to become the third fastest Kenyan indoors, behind Edward Cheserek and Bernard Lagat. while Paris Olympian Susan Ejore-Sanders finished fifth in the women’s race in 4:22.23.

In France, Vincent Kibet Keter won the Meeting de l’Eure mile in 3:55.03. In the 3000m steeplechase, world finalist Doris Lemngole of the University of Alabama claimed victory at the Millrose Games in 8:31.39, breaking the NCAA record.

Athletics Kenya will select its World Indoor Championships team through a time- and merit-based process after the qualification period closes on March 8, ahead of the championships set for March 20–22 in Torun.

Selection will focus on the 60m, 60m hurdles, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m events for both men and women.

At the last World Indoors in Nanjing, Team Kenya returned home without a medal, with Susan Ejore finishing fifth in the women’s 1500m in 4:03.89 as the country’s best performer.