Global Stars Shine at 2026 Kip Keino Classic: Gabby Thomas, Omanyala Lead Lineup for Live Action

Gabby Thomas and Ferdinand Omanyala are set to headline the 2026 Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, joining a star-studded lineup for the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting on Friday, April 24, 2026.

The event, held at Nyayo Stadium, will feature Olympic and world champions across sprints, jumps, and throws, with Thomas aiming to defend her form after a sprint double at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix. Omanyala, Kenya’s 100m record holder, will compete in the men’s 100m alongside top international sprinters.

Global champions Gabby Thomas, Camryn Rogers, and Ethan Katzberg are among the headliners announced by World Athletics for the Kip Keino Classic. Thomas, a three-time Olympic and world gold medallist, is coming off a dominant performance in Addis Ababa where she won both the 100m and 200m. Rogers, the Olympic and two-time world champion in the women’s hammer, returns to Nairobi to defend her title after opening her season with an 81.13m throw in Austin, USA, improving her North American record. Katzberg, the North American record-holder with a best of 84.70m from the Tokyo World Championships, seeks back-to-back wins in the men’s hammer.

The men’s 100m startlist includes Aron Brown, Rivaldo Roberts, Brandon Hicklin, and Gift Leotlela, with Omanyala expected to lead a strong field. On the women’s side, Thomas will face Maia McCoy, who returns to defend her crown, along with Cambrea Sturgis and Kenya’s Millicent Ndoro, who aims to make an impact on home soil.

In the women’s hammer, Rogers’ main challenger is Janee’ Kassanavoid, a two-time world medallist from the USA. Katzberg’s competition in the men’s hammer features Ukraine’s Mykhalio Kokhan, an Olympic bronze medallist, and Egypt’s Mostafa Elgamel, both of whom have surpassed 81 metres in their careers.

Other notable entrants include World Indoor silver medallist Noah Kibet in the men’s 1500m, alongside Kevin Loti, Nicholas Kiplangat, and Ethiopia’s Abebe Lemecha and Biruk Tadese. The meeting will also feature a shift to evening sessions, the introduction of wavelight technology on the new track, and a revised programme designed to enhance competitiveness and spectator experience.

Past editions of the Kip Keino Classic have produced area and national records, and organizers expect the seventh edition to be among the most exciting yet, given the depth of talent and upgraded facilities. The event will be streamed live, with full schedule details available through the World Athletics and Olympics.com platforms.