Koitatoi Kidali

Koitatoi Kidali
Personal information
NationalityKenyan
Born (2003-02-12) 12 February 2003
Sport
SportAthletics
Event
Middle distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800m: 1:42.66 (Nairobi, 2024)

Koitatoi Kidali (born 12 February 2003) is a Kenyan middle distance runner. He represented Kenya over 800 metres at the 2024 Olympic Games.[1]

Biography

Kidali was born in 2003 in Namanga, Kajiado County, the oldest of six children. He was a pupil at Engaboli Primary School in Maili Tisa, Kajiado South, before attending Natatai Secondary School. He trained with the school's football team as a winger, but was later coached in athletics by Nakeel Sylvester who encouraged his development in middle-distance running. He was runner-up over 800 metres at the Kenyan World U20 Trials in 2022, in a time of 1:46.32.[2]

Kidali ran a personal best 1:42.66 for the 800 metres at the Kenyan Olympic trials in Nairobi in June 2024, placing third behind Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Wycliffe Kinyamal.[3][4] He was subsequently named in the Kenyan team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he finished fifth in his heat and sixth in his repechage round without qualifying for the semi-final.[5][6]

In August 2024, he was announced as joining the athletics team at the University of Oregon in the United States.[7] He qualified for the final of the 800 metres at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, placing ninth overall.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Koitatoi Kidali". World Athletics. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Koitatoi Kidali lands full athletics scholarship from US University". Mozzart sport. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  3. ^ Henderson, Jason (June 16, 2024). "Emmanuel Wanyonyi runs 1:41.70 at Kenyan Olympic trials". Athletics Weekly. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  4. ^ "National Trials for the XXXIII Olympics Games". World Athletics. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  5. ^ Okeyo, Dennis (June 16, 2024). "Faith leads chase for glory as Olympics squad is unveiled". tnx.africa. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  6. ^ "The XXXIII Olympic Games". World Athletics. 7 August 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Oregon Lands 1:42 (800) Man & 2024 Olympian Koitatoi Kidali From Kenya". The Stride Report. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  8. ^ "NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships". World Athletics. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.