The fifth edition of the Kip Keino Classic will be held on April 20. Held annually at the Nyanao Annual Sports Stadium, the track and field tournament is one of the most prominent events on the circuit in this discipline.
The tournament is not just about the prize money and athletics ratings but also about the opportunity that it provides to athletes from all over Africa. The tournament has also helped the track and field discipline to grow immensely.
Besides African athletes, the tournament has also been graced by some of the world's major track and field athletes such as Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell.
With the 2024 edition of the tournament all set to start on Saturday, it can be expected to be a cracker of an event, especially with its star-studded participation list. Let's have a look at the top participants in the Kip Keino Classic 2024.
Kip Keino Classic 2024: Top contestants to watch out for
Courtney Lindsey
The 25-year-old Courtney Lindsey is one of the top contestants to watch out for in the upcoming Kip Keino Classic. Hailing from Rock Island, Illinois, Lindsey has had an impressive track and field career. In 2023, he reached the semifinals of the USATF Championships in the 100m discipline and also defeated the likes of Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman in the 200m discipline.
Letsile Tebogo
Letsile Tebogo, the 20-year-old track and field athlete from Botswana, will be a force to reckon with in the 100m and 200m disciplines. In his short career till now, Tebogo has tasted some success in international competitions. He has so far won a silver and a bronze medal in the World Championships. Tebogo also won the African Championships in 2022 held in Saint Pierre.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi
Emmanuel Wanyonyi is the third name on this list of top contestants to watch out for in the Kip Keino Classic 2024. Wanyonyi will pose a tough challenge to the other track and field athletes in the 800m discipline. Wanyonyi, 19, has already made a name for himself in the event at the 2023 Budapest World Championships where he secured a silver medal.
Timothy Cheruiyot
The vastly experienced Timothy Cheruiyot is the fourth name on the list. Cheruiyot, 28, is a major name in the Kenyan track and field circuit in the 1500m discipline. He clinched the gold medal at the 2019 Doha World Championships and also has four victories in the 1500m in the Diamond League.
Ferdinand Omanyala
The 28-year-old Ferdinand Omanyala will be a major threat to deal with, especially in the 100m discipline. He has already bagged gold medals in the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships and will be looking to have a bright performance at the Kip Keino Classic 2024.