Absa Kip Keino Classic goes high-tech with wavelight debut
Wavelight technology will be used at Kenya’s Absa Kipkeino classic for the very first time this year, marking a major milestone for the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet which is in its seventh edition.
One of athletics’ innovative advancements, wavelight is an LED pacing system built into running tracks. The lights move around the track at a set speed, helping athletes keep the right pace when trying to break records or hit specific times and eliminates the use of traditional pacemakers.
“The organisers are exploring the use of wave‑light pacing to help athletes deliver faster times,” meet director Barnaba Korir said during an inspection of the meet’s venue in Nairobi.
Korir added that the technology’s introduction aims to align the Classic with cutting‑edge global athletics standards, moving away from the use of pacers or ‘rabbits’, as they were previously called.
The meet will take place on 24th April at Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya’s capital. In another first, the event will be held under floodlights—transforming the stadium into a high-energy nighttime arena designed to enhance athlete performance and boost global viewership.
Preparations are underway to ensure the event attains the required global standards. Athletics Kenya officials, stadium management and event organisers are overseeing a detailed certification process of the venue, with specialists from World Athletics and international timing experts conducting a full assessment of the stadium.
“This year’s edition will be bigger, better, and extremely competitive,” Korir said.
“We expect several big names and incredibly fast races.”
Diamond League event director Owen Malone, who was part of the inspection team in Nairobi, noted that the city’s altitude, combined with the newly upgraded track surface laid last year, will provide ideal conditions for fast performances, particularly for sprinters.
A key stop before World Relays
The timing of the Classic makes it an important tune‑up event ahead of the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, which will be held just a week after the event. As a result, sprinters from Europe, the United States, Australia, and across Africa have expressed interest in competing in Nairobi to test their form in altitude conditions similar to Botswana.
Among the Kenyan stars set to compete is the country’s leading sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, who is also Africa’s fastest man. He will use the event as part of his preparation for a busy outdoor season. His presence is expected to draw local support once again.
Also confirmed is Olympic and World hammer throw champion Canada’s Ethan Katzberg. His return follows a string of commanding performances at previous editions, and organisers say Katzberg’s presence elevates the event’s international stature.
With global stars confirmed, local heroes ready to shine, and a stadium set to glow under the Nairobi night sky, the Kip Keino Classic 2026 is poised to deliver an unforgettable sporting spectacle.
