Kenny Bednarek confirmed for Kip Keino Classic
Athletics
By
Stephen Rutto
| Apr 16, 2022
Mark your calendar. The 2022 edition of Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour to be staged in Nairobi is likely to be a battle of athletics titans.
Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek of USA is among global sensations set to light up the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani during the third edition of Kip Keino Classic next month.
Bednarek joins a list of international stars who will be battling for top honors at the Gold Continental Tour event slated for May 7.
Nairobi has hosted the Kip Keino Classic since 2020. This year’s edition is attracting a huge number of local and international top guns.
Athletics Kenya official Barnaba Korir confirmed Bednarek’s participation in the Continental Tour. He will be competing in 100m.
The American had a stellar 2021 season, winning silver in 200m at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 19.68 seconds, last August.
A month later, he clinched the Diamond League 200m season championship at the Weltklasse Meet in Zürich, winning in a time of 19.70. He ended the 2021 season ranked number one in 200m.
“Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek of USA will compete in the men's 100m. Will the American lower his PB of 9.89 at Kasarani?” Korir posed.
Three-time Olympic champion and nine-time world champion, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce confirmed her participation earlier this month.
Fraser-Pryce will be facing off with America's Sha'Carri Richardson, the 2017 Pan American U20 champion.
Locally, Olympian Mary Moraa is set to compete in the one-day event. She will be using the Kip Keino Classic to seek qualification for the World Championships.
World U20 3,000m steeplechase champion Amos Serem has also set his sights on writing history at May 7 competition as he prepares to run in the Diamond League.
Noah Kibet who clinched the 800m title in last year’s edition is defending it this year.
Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda is also expected in Nairobi.