Sprinter Zablon Ekwam prepares for the 400m at the 2024 Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo Stadium/ HANDOUTThe Nyayo National Stadium is on course to stage a dazzling seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold meeting on April 24, Sports Kenya Director General Timothy Kilimo has assured.
His confidence comes on the back of a high-level technical inspection that got underway on Tuesday at the iconic venue, signalling the final lap of preparations ahead of the global showpiece.
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The inspection exercise has brought together a team of experts from Belgium’s Time Tronics, a delegation from World Athletics, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Sports Kenya Management, all tasked with ensuring the facility meets the exacting standards of elite competition under the World Athletics code.
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Kilimo struck an optimistic tone, insisting Nyayo Stadium is firmly on track to deliver a standout meet. “Nyayo Stadium is on track to meet international standards. We are working around the clock to ensure every facility is competition-ready for athletes and fans from across the world,” he said.
In a historic first, this year’s Kip Keino Classic will unfold under the stadium lights, with an evening programme scheduled from 4 pm to 9 pm.
It will also mark the third time the prestigious Gold-level meet is being hosted at Nyayo.
The inaugural edition in 2020 was staged at the venue before the event shifted to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for the next three editions. The meet returned to Nyayo Stadium in 2024, while the 2025 edition was held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
On the competition front, anticipation is already building after meet director Barnaba Korir confirmed the entry of reigning World and Olympic hammer throw champion Ethan Katzberg of Canada.
“We can confirm that Ethan Katzberg of Canada, who is already a World and Olympic champion, will be coming. We will announce the other athletes in the course of this week,” Korir revealed.
Katzberg arrives as one of the headline acts, having clinched Olympic gold in Paris 2024 with a massive 84.12m throw, finishing ahead of Hungary’s Bence Halasz (79.97m) and Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Kokhan (79.39m).
The Canadian powerhouse has also stamped his authority on the global stage, first seizing the world title in Budapest 2023 with an 81.25m effort before successfully defending his crown in Tokyo last year with an 84.70m throw, a championship record.
A familiar face at the Kip Keino Classic, Katzberg made his debut in 2023, finishing second with a 76.38m throw behind Poland's Wojciech Nowicki (79.78m). He returned in 2024 to dominate the field with a 84.38m mark before successfully defending his title in 2025 with 82.73m throw.
Korir further believes this year’s edition will raise the bar even higher, promising a fiercely competitive programme across track and field. “This year’s programme will feature sprints, middle-distance races and field events, and it will be one of the most competitive editions in the event’s history,” he said.
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