At just 22 years old, Mercy Oketch is rewriting the script of Kenyan sprinting, delivering record-breaking performances and emerging as a formidable force on the international athletics circuit.

Oketch’s latest triumph came at the Meeting de Marseille this past weekend, where she stormed to victory in the women’s 400m with a stunning time of 50.89 seconds—setting a new meeting record and toppling the previous mark held by Olympic bronze medalist Natalia Bukowiecka. The race was fiercely contested, with Oketch narrowly edging out Britain’s Laviai Nielsen, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, who clocked 51.65 seconds.

Her consistency throughout the season has been equally impressive. In May, during the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, Oketch anchored Kenya’s 4×400m mixed relay team with a remarkable 49.77-second split, securing a historic bronze medal—only the country’s second ever in the event. That performance also punched Kenya’s ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Back on home soil, Oketch dazzled fans at the Kip Keino Classic, winning the 400m in 50.15 seconds. Not only did this set a new Kenyan national record, but it also comfortably met the World Championships qualifying standard by a margin of 0.60 seconds.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. A standout performer at the 2025 Military Track and Field Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex, the Moi Airbase-based athlete was honored among Kenya’s top female competitors for her exceptional contributions to athletics.

With the National Trials scheduled for July 22, Oketch is gearing up for what could be a defining moment in her career. As she sets her sights on Tokyo, she carries with her the hopes of elevating Kenya’s sprinting profile on the world stage—one stride at a time.