Action galore at Kip Keino Classic

Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani will come to life at 1 pm (EAT) as Athletics Kenya hosts the final leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event, the Kip Keino Classic. 

The opening ceremony coming 35 minutes before action begins at 12.25 pm, paving way for the first event of the day, the men’s Javelin which is in the discretionary category on the one-day event. 

Kenya is represented by Africa javelin silver medalist and the Classic's defending champion Alex Kiprotich and Duncan Kinyanjui respectively. The two have their work cut out in a stellar field that had an 89.21 thrower, Egyptian Ihab Abdelrahman who heads to the meet with an 83.88m season-best. Aliaksei Katkavets is the favourite, on paper, in the nine-men field with a season-best throw of 85.10m. 

The core event's program starts at 2.30 pm with the women's hammer throw. Kenyan duo of Lucy Omondi and Rebecca Kerubo who boast personal bests of 51.63m and 51.19m respectively are likely out of their depth in a field that has its best thrower, American Jenee Kassanavoid, managing a 75.50m throw this season.

Outside of the two Kenyans, the shortest distance achieved this season on the 14-women field is a 64.42m throw by South Africa's Margaretha Cummings. 

While Kenyans may find the going tough on the other core events, Hyvin Kiyeng and Benjamin Kigen carry the country's hopes for gold in the 3000m steeplechase. The two and the men's 100m are likely the highly anticipated races of the day. 

It will be the last race of the event and easily the most anticipated race, the men's 100m. 

Five-time Olympic medalist and a 12-time World Championship medalist Justin Gatlin who has had an elaborate career spanning over two decades, with accolades in the World Indoor Games as well as a three-time Diamond League champion is in the lineup. 

The eight-man lineup also has Trayvon Bromell, the world's fastest man this year with 9.77. Despite the American flair, many Kenyans are eager to see one of their own, Ferdinand Omanyala take on such a field on home soil. 

Kip Keino Classic: Winning athletes to smile all the way to the bank

In a short while, the national sprint sensation Omanyala has lived the biblical cornerstone rejected by builders' story. First, fighting his way into the Olympics team. This, against a federation that had every intention to use him to prove a point to drug cheats. 

He kept chasing his dream, to be at the Olympics. After numerous trips out of the country, his efforts finally paid, on home soil, during the national Olympics trials clocking 10.02 for double joy, qualifying for the Olympics and dethroning Mark Otieno as the national 100m titleholder. 

That was the last race for the University of Nairobi (UoN) student on home soil and on Saturday 18 September, he makes a return home after several trips across the globe racing and breaking new ground for Kenyan sprinters. 

"I have raced against the best on the Olympics stage and again in the Diamond League and that was a good experience. It gave me some perspective as to who the big names in the game are and they are just as human as I am so I am ripe for the big stage and this is just another chance for me to prove that," said Omanyala in his pre-event race. 

"I want to beat Gatlin on home soil and if all goes well I hope to break a record. I am happy about competing at Kip Keino and ending the season on a high. I am out to have fun so no pressure. I have raced under pressure, especially at the Olympics and I know how to handle that now," said the national record holder at 9.86 adding that he is looking forward to taking at least a four-week break where he won't think about racing. 

He continued, "Racing against Yohan Blake at the Olympics and now a chance to compete with Gatlin means I have gone up against my childhood heroes. The only other person I would have wanted to compete against is Usain Bolt (to which Gatlin jokingly says he can make happen). For now, it is all about getting the times and the medals for my country," said Omanyala.