Kip Keino Classic: From Pandemic Gamble to Global Athletics spectacle
Launched in 2020 at the height of COVID-19, the Kip Keino Classic began as a bold leap into uncertainty. With global sport at a standstill, Kenya seized the moment, joining the newly created World Athletics Continental Tour, which aimed to expand opportunities for athletes beyond the Diamond League.
Meet Director Barnaba Korir recalls the Classic’s beginnings and the early challenges.
“This event was a result of the bidding done by Athletics Kenya president Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei and the then Kenya sports minister, Amina Mohammed when they to Doha to bid for this opportunity. There were several countries that bid for this in Africa, we won and I was made meet director,” Korir said.
“When we started it was very difficult, because we did not know where to start, and we didn’t know what to expect, to make it worse it was COVID-19, it was really difficult, eventually we succeeded in organising the first one.”
The success of the inaugural edition lay the foundation for what would become a world-class competition.
Korir adds that strong collaboration with the government and other partners such as Absa Bank has fuelled the meet’s growth. The Classic has since attracted top global, regional, and local talent, with Kenyan hospitality and passionate fans adding to its unique appeal.
Key Moments Through the Years
2020 – Bold beginnings
The debut event in Nairobi featured standout wins from Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot (1500m), Hellen Obiri (5,000m), and Beatrice Chepkoech (3,000m steeplechase), setting a high standard.
2021 – Breaking records
Kenya’s sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala made history with a 9.77s African record in the 100m. Olympic champion Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon (1500m) also impressed as did Poland’s multiple World champion Paweł Fajdek in the hammer throw, underlining the meet’s growing global appeal.
2022 – World-Class Performances
Held in May, earlier in the year than the two previous editions, the Kip Keino Classic found a more consistent date in the Continental Tour calendar.
Jamaica’s Olympic and World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce headlined the meet with a 10.67s world lead in the 100m. The event was packed with elite performances including Omanyala defending his 100m crown with 9.85s while Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki from Poland dominated the hammer throw.
2023 – Star Power on Display
American star Sha’Carri Richardson lit up the 200m—just three months before claiming her first major global title at the World Championships in Budapest. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga impressed with a 44.25s win in the 400m, while Kenyan stars thrilled a partisan home crowd.
Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala secured a third consecutive 100m title. Mary Moraa, who would also go on to win her first global title in Budapest and Emmanuel Wanyonyi stormed to victory in the 800m.
2024 – Elite Consistency
Kenya 800m star Emmanuel Wanyonyi opened his 2024 season with victory in the Classic, setting the tone for a dominant year that culminated in his first Olympic title in Paris.
America’s Kenneth Bednarek won the men’s 100m in 9.91s, while world champion Mary Moraa once again proved dominant in the 800m. In the field, Canada’s Ethan Katzberg who also won his first Olympic title months later in Paris, delivered a standout performance to win the hammer throw.
2025 – New Champions Rise
The edition, continued the tradition of high-quality competition and breakthrough performances. Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy claimed the men’s 100m in 9.98s while Ethiopians dominated the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.
In the field, Canadian Olympic champions Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers delivered commanding performances in the hammer throw as Brazil’s Luiz Maurício da Silva set a meeting record of 86.34m in the javelin.
2026 – A New Era
Returning to Nyayo Stadium for its seventh edition, the Kip Keino Classic embraces innovation. For the first time, events will run under floodlights with wave-light technology introduced to enhance performance and fan experience.
From a pandemic-era leap of faith to a premier global meet, the Kip Keino Classic’s rise reflects Kenya’s enduring athletics legacy.
