America’s McCoy out to reward Kenyan fans with a fast Absa Kip Keino race
She’s already picked up a few Swahili phrases — “mambo, poa, asante” — and laughs at how easily locals engage.
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29- Under the soft afternoon sun at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex, the air is crisp, the breeze steady, and the track buzzing with pre-race energy.
One figure, striding gracefully through her warm-up sprints, draws lingering gazes from coaches and onlookers alike.
She’s Maia McCoy, the effervescent American sprinter who hit the headlines for running for Liberia last year before initiating a transfer of allegiance back to her country of birth.
And ahead of her Absa Kip Keino Classic debut, the 28-year-old is already commanding attention.
Shaking off the jet lag from night before, McCoy is confident that she will illuminate the sixth World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting of the season on Saturday (May 31).
“This is my first time seeing the stadium. It’s good. I like it. Everything’s good so far,” she told this website on Thursday.
McCoy’s arrival marks another layer in what is shaping up to be a dramatic showdown in the women’s 100 metres despite the sudden withdrawal of Swiss sprint queen Mujinga Kambundji who recently announced she has closed her season due to pregnancy.
Destiny Smith Barnett, the powerful American sprinter from the East Coast, will take up her place.
“I don’t focus on who’s not here. The field is always competitive. You line up, you give your best. I’m just excited to race,” McCoy added.
McCoy’s season has been a burst of momentum.
A breakout performance at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Doha, where she jumped from the B heat to the A race and held her own, was followed by a pair of wins in Poland and a strong runner-up finish in the Rabat leg of the elite circuit competition last weekend.
With season’s bests of 11.02s in the 100m and 22.55s in the 200m, McCoy has the wind in her sails.
“Not bad for my first Diamond League. I just want to keep dropping those times. I’m chasing that sub-11.”
“But my coach always tells me: ‘Don’t chase the time, compete. The time will come.’ So that’s what I’m doing.”
In 2024, McCoy accepted an opportunity to represent Liberia in international competitions, qualifying through the country’s recruitment initiative aimed at strengthening its national team.
She went on to win silver medals in both the 100 meters and the 4 × 100-meter relay at the 2024 All-Africa Games, and another silver in the 100 meters at the 2024 African Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
However, concerns over the legitimacy of the recruitment practises and organisational issues with the Liberian federation saw her initiate the return to competing for the United States.
“It’s always been my dream to wear the US uniform. Deep down, that never changed,” McCoy remarked on her brief stint as a Liberian athlete.
Now, she has the Tokyo 2025 World Championships firmly in her sights following a solid early outdoor track season so far.
“We’re hoping I can sneak into Rome’s Diamond League. That’s the goal. (On Kenya) “It’s breezy. Not too hot. I like it. This track? It feels like the beginning of something big.”
Basketball player
A former basketball player, she first caught the attention of a track coach who noticed her unmatched speed on fast breaks.
“I didn’t think I was track-fast,” she admitted. “But I kept winning.”
Those wins led to state titles, then NCAA scholarships, and eventually to international podiums.
Besides athletics, she nurtures a passion for creativity — designing graphics, running an Etsy shop, and sketching custom greeting cards between meets.
“It helps keep me balanced. Track is intense, but art helps me slow down.”
Back to Nairobi, McCoy is adjusting not just to the air but to the rhythm of the city.
She’s already picked up a few Swahili phrases — “mambo, poa, asante” — and laughs at how easily locals engage.
“The people here are so warm. It feels like home already.”
As she eyes the blocks this Saturday, McCoy isn’t caught up in the pressure of expectation. Instead, she carries a calm urgency — the belief that she belongs on this stage and that each race is another canvas.
“I’m hoping for a good time here. Maybe a PB. Always a win,” she said with a shrug and a smile.
“Kenya is beautiful. And this crowd? I want to give them a show.”
-By Robert Kibet | Freelance Journalist
-Photos: Peter Njoroge
