Strong national field for KipKeino Classic at Nyayo Stadium

Physiotherapist Gilbert Murei works on Winny Chebet during a morning training session at GEMS Cambridge International School on September 29, 2020, ahead of inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour set for Saturday. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The organisers of the Nairobi’s World Athletics Continental Tour Meeting have lined up a strong field for the national events on Saturday.

The one day meet, dubbed the Kip Keino Classic, will be the first major athletics event on the continent since the coronavirus struck in March.

The national events were added to give local athletes the chance to compete in a season shredded by the coronavirus pandemic.

World Under-20 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto will headline the 10000m event alongside Solomon Boit and Emmanuel Bett among others.

The Olympic 10,000m bronze medalist Paul Tanui will also spice up the event.

Kenya Defence Forces high jumper Mathew Sawe will lead the men’s high jump.

Others will be Andrew Kipyego, Aspel Kiprob and Peterson Kosgei.

Inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour race organizers plan the event at the Athletics Kenya offices in Nairobi on September 29, 2020. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Men’s 20km walk race will have Samuel Gathimba, Domnic Ndigiti, Peter Theuri, Simon Wachira among others.

African 20km walk champion Grace Wanjiru and Silvia Kemboi will contest the women’s event.

The Kip Keino Classic will have five core events in the gold meeting series this season — the 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus throw and hammer throw for both men and women.

The Nairobi meet will also include javelin throw, the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m.