AK cancels Kip Keino Classic test run

Athletics Kenya (AK) has called off the test run event that had been organised as a build up for local athletes ahead of the Nairobi Continental Tour named Kip Keino Classic set for October 3.

The test event was earlier scheduled to be held today at the Nyayo National Stadium before it was postponed to September 19.

However, according to AK Vice president Paul Mutwii the event has been cancelled since the renovations at the Nyayo National Stadium are not complete.

“The event has been called off, we intended to push it to next week but we have been informed that the stadium will not be ready in time. We cannot move it to another stadium since we wanted to specifically assess the stadium in readiness for Kip Keino Classic,” said Mutwii.

At the same time, Mutwii disclosed that athletes who will compete at the Kip Keino Classic will thus be selected using the world rankings and major events in 2019.

Mutwii further revealed that many nations have already expressed interest in the global event as sporting events slowly resume after a quiet period due to Covid-19 disruptions.

Kip Keino Classic is the sixth meeting of the inaugural Continental Tour Gold and the only leg to be held in African soil.

There are five core events in the gold meeting series this season – the 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus throw and hammer throw for both men and women.

The Nairobi meet will also include javelin throw, the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m. The organisers have also included some national events to give local athletes the chance to compete in a season ripped to shreds by the coronavirus pandemic.