Ugandan athlete to kickstart new journey at Kip Keino Classic
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 16.04.26. | 13:50
The 31-year-old has competed in the 800m in each of her last three event trips to Nairobi
Uganda’s middle-distance runner Halimah Nakaayi will line up for the 1500m at this year’s 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic, set for Friday, 24 April.
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The 31-year-old, who normally competes in the two-lap distance, announced that she will move up this year, in a bid to build her endurance in the new season.
“I’m opening my season with a focus on assessing my endurance levels and identifying areas that need improvement,” Nakaayi told the organizers on Tuesday, 14 April, addressing her jump to a longer distance this year.
“With the outdoor season just starting, this is a good opportunity to understand where we need to work moving forward.”
This year will be Nakaayi’s fourth appearance at the Kip Keino Classic, which will be entering its seventh edition as part of the World Athletics Continental Tour gold meets.
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The world returns to Kenya for the Kip Keino Classic 2026.
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Nakaayi’s best result in the competition was in 2021, when she finished second in the 800m in a time of 2:00.63.
In 2022, the 2019 800m World champion was fifth in the same distance in 2:00.93, the same position she was in two years later, clocking 1:59.89.
Earlier this year, the three-time Olympian finished 11th at the 2 kilometer race of the Absa Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour in Eldoret, timing 7:15.
“My plan is very simple—just to enjoy the new journey of the 1500m and see how fast I can run on the day,” Nakaayi, who famously trains alongside multiple Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, said.
“I am very lucky to train with some of the greatest ladies who have achieved what I am dreaming to achieve,” she noted.
“I am working towards being a better version every day. I am physically and mentally prepared to challenge myself by doing longer distances.”
This year, the Kip Keino Classic will return to the Nyayo National Stadium for the first time since 2024.
The facility is set to host its first night race, which will also feature wavelight technology for the first time.
“Kenya is my second home,” Nakaayi added. “It’s my passion to support our own competitions.”
After the Kip Keino Classic, the next Continental Tour gold meeting will be the SEIKO Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, Japan on 17 May.
