- All is set for the Kip Keino Classic 2026, which serves as the second stop on the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold.
- The Kip Keino Classic is scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026, at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.
- Some of the world’s top athletes, including U.S. sprint star Gabby Thomas, will headline a thrilling evening of action from 4pm–10pm EAT.
On Friday, all roads lead to Nyayo National Stadium for the unforgettable seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic, which serves as the second stop on the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold.
A lot is set to unfold at this year’s spectacle, as it will be the first-ever rendition held under floodlights.
In addition, several upgrades have been made, including a fresh track, the introduction of wavelight technology, a star-studded lineup, and a shift in the event program from afternoon to evening.
ALSO READ: Africa’s fastest man Omanyala targets world lead at the Kip Keino Classic 2026
Here are the key details for the Kip Keino Classic 2026.
When and what time does the Kip Keino Classic kick off?
The Kip Keino Classic 2026 is set for Friday, April 24, with action getting underway at 1:40pm EAT, that’s the field event, the javelin throws.
While the day’s main events start at 5:38pm with the 5000m, following the opening ceremony scheduled for 5:25pm.
The action will roll on all the way through to the floodlit finale, with the core event- the men’s 100m- closing out the day at 7:52pm EAT. The awards ceremony then begins eight minutes later.
Kip Keino Classic 2026 preview
Olympic and world champion Gabby Thomas headlines the sprint events, returning to action in a rare double as she lines up in both the 100m and 200m.
The U.S. athlete skipped September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo due to an Achilles tendon injury that hampered her for much of last season.
The American star has already flashed strong early-season form and now shifts her focus to Nairobi after competing in the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, aiming to build momentum in a high-quality international field.
She will chase the same in Nairobi, where in the 100m she faces Maia McCoy, who returns to defend her crown as part of a powerful US contingent also featuring Cambrea Sturgis, as well as Kenya’s Millicent Ndoro, hoping to make a statement on home soil.
In the 200m, Thomas again battles Sturgis, along with France’s 2022 world indoor 60m hurdles champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela.
Meanwhile, home favourite Ferdinand Omanyala returns to the meeting where he set his African 100m record of 9.77 back in 2021.
He ran 9.98 to win in Addis Ababa last weekend, and the Nyayo crowd will be roaring him on as he tests his pace against international challengers such as Canada’s Aaron Brown, USA’s Brandon Hicklin, and South Africa’s Gift Leotlela.
He says he and the event are age-mates, and he hopes to put on a show this Friday.
“Kip Keino means a lot. We are age-mates with Kip Keino, just a year older than me. But it’s through Kip Keino that I’ve really risen through the ranks. I’ve run a world lead, I think, four times at the Kip Keino Classic,” Omanyala told the SportPesa Blog on Thursday.
As one of the core events of the day, Omanyala will be aiming to deliver gold to the home crowd while also bouncing back after last year’s Kip Keino edition didn’t go his way, where he finished third at Ulinzi Stars behind Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy, who clinched gold, while Bayanda Walaza of South Africa came second.
On the other side of the track, Kenya’s world champion Lilian Odira stars in the women’s 800m and will go up against Ethiopia’s world indoor silver medallist Nigist Getachew and Habtam Gebeyehu.
The men’s 800m also has a stacked lineup, with six runners who have dipped under 1:44.00. Kethobolige Haingura of Botswana, who has a PB of 1:43.58, will want to challenge the Kenyan stars including Wyclife Kinyamal, Aaron Cheminingwa, and Alex Kipngetich.
In the men’s category, Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will not race his usual two-lap event but will instead contest the 1500m.
He lines up alongside his compatriots Reynold Cheruiyot (the world bronze medallist), 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen, and Abel Kipsang, as well as US champion Jonah Koech.
All eyes will also be on Kenya’s rising star Mercy Oketch as she chases her own national record of 50.14 in the women’s 400m.
Her competition includes USA’s Paris Peoples and Ugandan record-holder Leni Shida. World finalists Shiann Salmon of Jamaica and Gianna Woodruff of Panama contest the 400m hurdles against Kemi Adekoya.
Canada’s Rodgers is the clear favourite in the women’s hammer as she returns to Nairobi to defend her title.
Her competition includes USA’s two-time world medallist Janee’ Kassanavoid. Rodgers’ compatriot and fellow Olympic and two-time world champion Katzberg will also want to make a statement as he seeks back-to-back wins.
The North American record-holder with 84.70m from the World Championships in Tokyo last year will be joined by Ukraine’s Olympic bronze medallist Mykhalio Kokhan and Egypt’s Mostafa Elgamel – two throwers who have also surpassed 81 metres.
The men’s javelin includes Kenya’s African record-holder Julius Yego, Belgian record-holder Timothy Herman, 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler of Germany, and Portuguese record-holder Leandro Ramos.
Kip Keino Classic 2026: Stars to watch
- Gabby Thomas – women’s 100m, women’s 200m
- Ferdinand Omanyala – men’s 100m
- Bryan Levell – men’s 200m
- Lilian Odira – women’s 800m
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi – men’s 1500m
- Julius Yego – men’s javelin throw
- Thomas Rohler – men’s javelin throw
- Camryn Rogers – women’s hammer throw
- Ethan Katzberg – men’s hammer throw
How to watch and follow the 2026 Kip Keino Classic live
There will be a livestream of the meeting via World Athletics+. Geo-restrictions may apply.
Ticketing information for the Kip Keino Classic
This event is set to be free for all Kenyans, and they are encouraged to flock to the stadium to experience the unforgettable occasion.
2026 Kip Keino Classic schedule
Local time in Nairobi (GMT+3)
- 1:40 PM – Javelin Throw Men (Discretionary Event)
- 2:12 PM – 800m U20 Men
- 2:26 PM – 800m U20 Women
- 2:40 PM – 3000m Steeplechase U20 Men
- 2:57 PM – Shot Put Men (National Event)
- 3:02 PM – 3000m U20 Men
- 3:24 PM – 3000m U20 Women
- 3:45 PM – Hammer Throw Men (Core Event)
- 3:48 PM – 10000m Men (National Event)
- 4:35 PM – 400m Hurdles Men (Core Event)
- 4:45 PM – 5000m Women (National Event)
- 5:09 PM – 3000m Steeplechase Women (Discretionary Event)
- 5:38 PM – 5000m Men (Discretionary Event)
- 6:04 PM – 400m Hurdles Women (Core Event)
- 6:10 PM – Hammer Throw Men (Core Event)
- 6:14 PM – 1500m Men (Discretionary Event)
- 6:22 PM – Long Jump Women (Discretionary Event)
- 6:28 PM – 100m Women (Core Event)
- 6:35 PM – 3000m Steeplechase Men (Discretionary Event)
- 6:52 PM – 200m Men (Core Event)
- 6:59 PM – 800m Women (Core Event)
- 7:09 PM – 400m Men (Discretionary Event)
- 7:17 PM – 1500m Women (Discretionary Event)
- 7:29 PM – 800m Men (Core Event)
- 7:40 PM – 400m Women (Discretionary Event)
- 7:52 PM – 100m Men (Core Event)