The sixth edition of the Kip Keino Classic, a prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event, is set to ignite Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on May 31, 2025. Named after Kenya’s legendary Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino, this one-day athletics meet has become a cornerstone of African athletics, showcasing elite talent and reinforcing Kenya’s status as a global athletics powerhouse. As preparations intensify, questions linger about the readiness of Nyayo Stadium’s newly installed tartan track, while the event’s growing stature fuels ambitions to elevate it to the elite Diamond League. Here’s an in-depth look at the Kip Keino Classic 2025, its significance, history, star athletes, financial landscape, and the ongoing efforts to cement its place on the global stage.
Nyayo Stadium: Racing Against Time
Nyayo National Stadium, the 35,000-seater venue hosting the Kip Keino Classic, is undergoing a critical transformation to meet World Athletics standards for the Gold-level event. The aging tartan track has been replaced with a brand-new red Mondo synthetic track, which arrived in Kenya in mid-April 2025. Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir confirmed that the track’s installation is on a tight schedule, with a test run planned during the AK Weekend Meeting on May 16–17, just two weeks before the Classic.
“The government has funded the facelift, and we’re working swiftly to ensure the venue is ready,” Korir stated, emphasizing the event’s role as a “litmus test” for Kenya’s readiness to host larger global competitions, including a potential 2029 World Championships bid.
Despite the optimism, uncertainties persist. The track replacement, debris clearance, and surface levelling are complex tasks, and any delays could jeopardize the event’s execution. Korir has rallied fans to “fill Nyayo to the brim” to showcase Kenya’s passion for athletics, with added family-friendly features like kids’ athletics and a mascot to enhance the experience. The refurbished stadium, previously upgraded in 2020 with new seats, a media center, and electronic screens, is poised to deliver a world-class atmosphere—if the track is ready.
A Brief History of the Kip Keino Classic
Launched in 2020, the Kip Keino Classic marked Africa’s first World Athletics Continental Tour event, filling a void for high-level competition on the continent. Named after Kipchoge Keino, the 1968 1,500m and 1972 3,000m steeplechase Olympic champion, the event was initially scheduled for May 2020 but postponed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Held at the newly renovated Nyayo Stadium, the inaugural edition featured core events like the 200m, 3,000m steeplechase, discus, hammer, and triple jump, with discretionary events such as javelin and high jump.
Since its inception, the Kip Keino Classic has grown into a global spectacle, attracting top athletes and earning praise for its organization and electric atmosphere. The event moved to Kasarani Stadium for some editions but returns to Nyayo in 2025, its second time at the venue since 2020. Its Gold-level status ensures athletes earn world ranking points and prize money, making it a critical stop on the international calendar.
Top Athletes: Past and Present
The Kip Keino Classic has consistently drawn world-class talent, and 2025 promises no less. Confirmed attendees include two Canadian Olympic hammer throw champion Camryn Rogers, Grenana’s javelin champion Anderson Peters, African 100m record holder and 9th fastest man Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala. The 2024 edition featured stars like Botswana’s 200m silver medalist Letsile Tebogo, Kenya’s 800m world champion Mary Moraa, Poland’s hammer throw champions Wojciech Nowicki and Paweł Fajdek, Canada’s Ethan Katzberg, and Kenya’s javelin legend Julius Yego. These athletes delivered thrilling performances, with Tebogo and Moraa electrifying the crowd.
Previous editions have seen Olympic and world champions like Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs, USA’s Fred Kerley, and Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, Timothy Cheruiyot, Beatrice Chepkoech and 100m Olympic Champion Sha’Carri Richardson. In 2020, Obiri, Chepkoech, and Cheruiyot headlined the inaugural event, while 2022 saw Fraser-Pryce and USA’s Kenny Bednarek light up the sprints. The altitude of Nairobi (1,612m) favors sprinters and jumpers, attracting explosive athletes like Tebogo and Omanyala, who broke records at Nyayo and Kasarani.
The Significance for Kenyan Athletics
The Kip Keino Classic is more than a competition; it’s a celebration of Kenya’s athletics legacy and a platform for nurturing talent. Kenya, a nation synonymous with middle- and long-distance running, has produced icons like Keino, Eliud Kipchoge, and Faith Kipyegon. The Classic showcases homegrown stars alongside international competitors, inspiring young athletes and boosting local expertise in event management, media, and commentary. Martin Keino, Kipchoge’s son, and 2008 Olympic 800m champion Wilfred Bungei have served as commentators, enhancing the event’s legacy.
The event also strengthens Kenya’s global standing. Athletics Kenya president Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jack Tuwei has called it “the only race of its kind in Africa,” highlighting its role in uniting fans and athletes. By hosting a Gold-level meet, Kenya demonstrates its organizational prowess, critical for bids to host the 2029 World Championships or a Diamond League event. The Classic’s success has elevated Nairobi as a destination for fast times, particularly in sprints and jumps.
The World Athletics Continental Tour Explained
The World Athletics Continental Tour, launched in 2020, is the second tier of global athletics competition, below the Diamond League. It comprises Gold, Silver, and Bronze-level meets, with Gold being the highest, offering the most prize money and ranking points. The Kip Keino Classic, a Gold-level event, features core disciplines (200m, 3,000m steeplechase, discus, hammer, triple jump) and discretionary events, ensuring broad participation. Each Gold meet awards $200,000 (approximately Ksh 21 million) in prize money, attracting elite athletes.
The Continental Tour bridges the gap between national competitions and the Diamond League, providing opportunities for athletes to compete internationally, earn income, and improve their world rankings. For Africa, the Kip Keino Classic is a flagship event, showcasing the continent’s talent and fostering development in athletics infrastructure and media.
The Push for Diamond League Status
Athletics Kenya has formally requested an upgrade of the Kip Keino Classic to Diamond League status, which would make it only the second African meet in the elite series, alongside Rabat, Morocco. The Diamond League, the pinnacle of one-day athletics meetings, features 15 annual events with higher prize money and prestige. AK’s bid reflects confidence in the Classic’s organizational success and Kenya’s athletics pedigree. “This is not just another edition—it’s a step toward bigger goals,” Korir noted, linking the 2025 event to Kenya’s Diamond League and World Championships ambitions.
Martin Keino, in 2022, claimed the Classic was “perhaps even bigger than some Diamond League events,” citing its vibrant atmosphere and competitive fields. However, achieving Diamond League status requires meeting stringent World Athletics criteria, including consistent world-class performances, robust sponsorships, and global broadcast reach. The 2025 edition’s success, particularly the track’s readiness, will be pivotal in advancing this goal.
Financial Facts: Sponsors, Income, and Prizes
The Kip Keino Classic is a significant financial undertaking, supported by major sponsors like Absa Bank Kenya, which has invested Ksh 40 million for the 2025 edition. Absa’s Consumer Banking director Moses Muthui emphasized the bank’s decade-long commitment to Kenyan sports, with over Ksh 1.2 billion invested across athletics, golf, and football. Other stakeholders, including the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Sports, provide funding for infrastructure upgrades like the Nyayo track.
Each Gold-level Continental Tour event distributes $200,000 in prize money, with athletes competing for cash rewards and world ranking points. While exact figures for athlete winnings vary by event and position, the prize pool incentivizes top performances. The event also generates income through ticket sales, broadcast rights (NTV broadcasts live in Africa and Europe), and sponsorships. The 2020 edition, limited to 6,000 fans due to COVID-19, and subsequent years with fuller stadiums suggest growing commercial potential.
The Kip Keino Classic 2025 is poised to be a defining moment for Kenyan athletics, blending world-class competition with cultural pride. As Nyayo Stadium races to complete its track, the event’s success hinges on meticulous preparation and fan support. Since its 2020 debut, the Classic has elevated Africa’s presence in global athletics, drawing stars like Fraser-Pryce, Tebogo, and Moraa while honoring Kipchoge Keino’s legacy. Its Gold-level status in the Continental Tour, coupled with AK’s Diamond League ambitions, underscores its growing influence. With Absa’s backing and a $200,000 prize pool, the Classic is both a financial and sporting milestone. On May 31, Nairobi will once again prove why Kenya remains the heartbeat of global athletics.
