New track to be laid at Nyayo Stadium for 2025 Kip Keino Classic

The 2025 edition of the Kip Keino Classic athletics meet is expected to be bigger and better following commitment from the government to improve the Nyayo Stadium track as well as increase monetary and logistical support.

Speaking in Nairobi, Athletics Kenya head of youth development Barnaba Korir announced Monday that this year's Kip Keino Classic, which will be held May 31, would be bigger and better, especially with the government stepping in.

This will be the sixth edition of the competition, which has slowly but surely grown in status over time.

"We are grateful because the government has come in strongly to support the sixth edition, and they have promised to do their best to make sure that the fans are happy and athletes enjoy the race on that day. As such, we say thank you, and we look forward to having a good competition," he told Radio Generation Sport.

He also lauded the government for approving the replacement of the tartan track that has now served its purpose.

He also insisted that the idea behind the meet is to improve and in future be able to host world championships in the country.

"The tartan track is going to be removed and replaced with a new one before the race. We are glad for the support that we are receiving, and we are confident of organizing a great and world-class event. We started very well, and we can’t afford to lower standards. We have to keep improving because we are moving towards something major," explained Korir.

"We definitely want to host a World Championship here in the near future, so we have to keep on improving."

Some of the big names that have confirmed participation in this year's meet include Olympic hammer throw champion Camryn Rogers as well as Javelin great Anderson Peters.

Korir confirmed that talks are still ongoing to have some Jamaican athletes in the country for the sprint races, where they will face off with Kenyan and African champion Ferdinand Omanyala.