Kip Keino Classic: Exciting clashes set to light up Nyayo

Leading Kenyan athletes take on their greatest rivals Ethiopia in the long-distance races at the Kip Keino Classic, a Continental Tour Gold meeting, set for Nyayo Stadium on Saturday 20 April.

Fresh from his victory in the mixed relay at the World Cross, world U20 champion Reynold Kipkorir will be brimming with confidence when he lines up for the 1500m in Nairobi.

The teenager will be up against world U20 800m champion Ermais Girma of Ethiopia, who finished second to Kipkorir over 1500m at the 2022 World U20 Championships.

Tebogo craving to visit National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro after Kip Keino Classic show

Others in the field include 2021 world U20 champion Vincent Keter, Olympian Charles Simotwo, and African U20 silver medalist Ashenafi Gadisa of Ethiopia.

In the men’s steeplechase, Olympic bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen and world bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwot line up against fellow Kenyans Amos Kirui, winner in Nairobi last year, African Games silver medalist Amos Serem and 2021 world U20 champion Lawrence Kemboi.

They’ll take on double African champion Haliemariyam Amare and his Ethiopian compatriot Milkesa Fikadu.

Having won what she termed as a surprise bronze medal at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade last month, Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi will headline the 5000m in Nairobi. The 2019 world silver medalist won at this meeting in 2021 and finished second last year.

Others in the field include world 10,000m finalist Grace Loibach, Sheila Jebet, fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross, and African U20 cross-country silver medalist Yenenesh Shimket Ademas of Ethiopia.

Following a strong winter campaign on the roads and cross country, Edinah Jebitok leads a women’s 1500m field that also includes Ethiopia’s Hawi Abera and Kenya’s Mary Ekiru, the silver and bronze medalists respectively from the recent African Games.

Germany’s 2016 Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler will be competing at the Kip Keino Classic for the first time. The 32-year-old will take on Timothy Herman, who set a Belgian record of 87.35m to win in Nairobi last year, 2015 world champion and home favourite Julius Yego of Kenya, and 2015 world silver medalist Ihab Abdelrahman of Egypt.

In other events, Italy’s 2022 world bronze medalist Elena Vallortigara headlines the women’s high jump field, while Asian record-holder Kemi Adekoya is the stand-out in the women’s 400m hurdles.