• ATHLETICS

• Frank Rotich 5 hrs ago

Kip Keino Classic introduces Under-20 races in effort to nurture future stars

The 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic will for the first time feature Under-20 races as organisers move to help young Kenyan athletes gain exposure on the international stage.

The event, which has grown into one of Africa’s top athletics meetings on the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold calendar, will now give junior athletes a chance to compete alongside world-class stars.

Competition Director Kennedy Tanui said the move is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s talent pipeline by giving young athletes quality competition.

Tanui noted that Athletics Kenya currently has more than 55 Under-20 training camps across the country, but many athletes lack enough high-level competitions to test themselves.

He said introducing junior races at the Kip Keino Classic gives them a perfect platform to grow and prepare for bigger events in the future.

The Under-20 category will feature the 800m, 3,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The timing is important as young athletes prepare for the World Under-20 Championships set for August 5th to 9th in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States.

Tanui said the long-term plan is to help the athletes gain experience early by competing in front of large crowds, television cameras and top international athletes.

He pointed to Olympic champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Beatrice Chebet as examples of athletes who benefited from youth development programs before making it big on the world stage.

Organisers also believe the new category will attract more fans, especially parents and communities who will come to support young athletes from their local areas.

Tanui also urged the junior athletes to use the event as a learning opportunity by interacting with elite stars such as Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas.

The 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic will be held on April 24 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

With the new Under-20 races, the event is not only focusing on today’s stars but also building the future of Kenyan athletics.