The 5th edition of Kip Keino classic continental tour will be held today 20th April 2024 at Nyayo stadium
This year’s edition which is returning to Nyayo for the 2nd time since 2020 has attracted several world and Olympic medalists in both track and field events.
Organisers have rallied Kenyans to turn in numbers and cheer local athletes as it adds weight to Kenya’s request to get an upgrade to host a diamond league .
Among the scintillating finals of the day will be a renewal of rivalry between 100m defending champion Ferdinand Omanyala against Olympic silver medalist Keneth Bednarek who finished 2nd last year behind the commonwealth champion.
Other participants lined up for the 100m final include Mark Otieno,Britain’s Jeremiah Azu,Arthur Cize of Ivory Coast and Frenchman Pablo Mateo.
The female 100m dash will see 200m Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma of Namibia , Ray Shannon of USA,Lilly Kaden of Germany and Kenya’s Esther Mbagari.
Another exciting battle is expected in 800m women’s 800m as reigning world champion Mary Moraa takes on 2019 world champion Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda.
The 800m final will also feature Desta Netsanet and Gebeyehu Fikrte Birane from Ethiopia.
In the men’s two laps race it will be a battle against Olympic and World silver medalists Ferguson Cheruiyot and Emmanuel Wanyonyi ,former 1500m world champion Timothy Cheruiyot and 2023 Kip Keino Classic champion Abel Kipsang.
World 200m silver medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana is tipped favourite against america duo of Micaiah Harris and Courtney Lindsey.
Field core events will feature five times hammer throw men champion Paweł Fajdek,Olympic Wojciech Nowicki both from Poland ,world champion Ethan Katzberg of Canada and Kenyan 6 times national champion Dominic Abunda the only local participants.
Former world javelin champion Julius Yego will take on All Africa games silver medalist Alexander Kiprotich and Olympic Champion Thomas Rohler of Germany.
In women’s hammer throw World Championships Silver medallistJanee Kassanavoid of USA , Bianca Florentina of Romania and Kenya’s only competitor Rose Rakamba.
The Core event programme which will get underway at 4pm EAT will be held interchangeably with National and discretionary events.
Kenyan meet is the 2nd round of the continental tour championships following the Croatia’s meet in February 15th .
