At least 150 athletes drawn from more than thirty countries participated in the 2020 Kip Keino Classics, the first World Athletics Continental Tour Meeting hosted on African Soil.
The Saturday, October 3 event held at the recently refurbished Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi is the third World Athletics event hosted in Kenya in honor of legendary athlete, Kipchoge Keino.
Keino won Kenya the gold medal in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic games, solidifying his position in the world of athletics and short distance running.
Limited fans were allowed inside the stadium to witness the first post COVID-19 event attended by Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Public Service and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Proff Margaret Kobia who stood in for Sports C.S Ambassador Amina Mohamed and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko among other local and international dignitaries. C.S Amina is out of the country on official duty.
In her opening remarks, C.S Kobia thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for his exemplary leadership that saw the country strongly pull out of the COVID-19 pandemic and host the global athletic event.
Kobia’s remarks were also shared by ODM leader Raila Odinga who praised Kenyans for their prowess in athletics.
A stiff competition was witnessed in the different categories with telecommunications giant, Safaricom promissing a reward of a quarter a million to any of the participants who broke existing records. 19 year old Halu Lemlem from Ethiopia emerged the best in 1,500m women’s race closely followed by Kenya’s Chebet Winny and Cherono Mercy at positions two and three respectively.
World champion and women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech took the trophy home, beating her long time rival and fellow Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng.
Hellen Obiri, the World 5,000m champion secured victory in 15:06.36, ahead of Agnes Tirop.
The world 10,000m bronze medallist of 2017 and 2019 finished second in 15:06.71, with Kenya’s Margaret Kipkemboi, world silver medallist behind Obiri in Doha last year, third in 15:11:11.
