Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas is set to headline this year’s Kip Keino Classic with a surprise entry in the women’s 400 metres, setting up a high-stakes clash against Kenya’s national outdoor and indoor 400m record holder. Mercy Oketch
Other top stars confirmed for the event include Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala; world 200m bronze medalist Bryan Levell, 800m world champion Lilian Odira; Olympic gold medalist Twanisha Terry; Olympic and world 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi among others
Kip Keino Classic Meet Director Barnabas Korir confirmed that the American sprint star will forgo her trademark 100m and 200m races to compete in the one-lap event during the April 24 showpiece in Nairobi.
“We will not be having the women’s 200m. Gabby Thomas will not be running in her speciality; she will be running the 400m,” said Korir while speaking during a press conference at Riadha House on Monday.
Korir noted that Thomas’ participation is a major boost to the event, citing her global stature and ability to draw attention to the meet. “She is one of the best female athletes who will be attending the Kip Keino Classic. It is very important that she will be there to enhance the event itself,” he added.
He said that this year’s seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic will mark a historic milestone with the event scheduled to be held under floodlights.
Organisers have assured fans of adequate security, with coordination involving national and county security agencies. “We are assuring the fans that there will be proper security.
Athletics Kenya has had meetings with the police, as well as the county security teams and the National Youth Service,” he said while calling on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers and support the event.
Thomas, 29, has made a strong start to her 2026 season, including an impressive 11.00 seconds victory at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays earlier this month.
She is scheduled to compete at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix on April 18 before arriving in Kenya and will later proceed to the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 26.
The American returns to full competition after an injury-affected 2025 season that saw her miss key events, including the World Championships. She had suffered an Achilles injury.
She boasts an impressive résumé, highlighted by Olympic gold in the 200m in Paris, as well as relay gold medals in both the 4x100m and 4x400m.
Meanwhile, Oketch heads into the contest in top form, having set a new national indoor 400m record of 51.25 seconds at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, in March.
The Kenyan will be looking to capitalise on home advantage and her specialisation in the distance.
In addition to the athletics programme, fans will be treated to entertainment, with Kenyan artist Iyaani set to headline performances during the event.
The Kip Keino Classic continues to grow in stature on the global athletics calendar, with this year’s edition expected to attract top international and local talents.
The Kip Keino Classic is a track and field meeting held in Nairobi Kenya and named after Olympian Kipchoge Keino. The inaugural edition took place in 2020 as part of the inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour.
By Anita Omwenga
