A star-studded lineup of local and international athletes has been confirmed for the seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour set for April 24 with organisers promising a thrilling spectacle under the floodlights of Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.

The announcement was made during the official launch in Nairobi on Thursday, where meet director Barnaba Korir unveiled a strong cast headlined by Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and world and Olympic 800 metres champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

Korir confirmed that Kenya will also field top stars, including Timothy Cheruiyot, Julius Yego, Jonah Koech, Vincent Keter and Abel Kipsang. The event continues to enjoy backing from Absa Bank who announced sponsorship worth Sh35 million on Thursday.

Internationally, the event has attracted elite names such as Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad, Olympic 400m bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga, hammer throw star Ethan Katzberg and javelin ace Thomas Rohler.

Wanyonyi, who has previously dominated the 800m race in 2022, 2023 and 2024 at Kip Keino Classic, will step up to the 1,500m this year, where he faces Cheruiyot, Koech, Keter and Kipsang in what promises to be a competitive showdown.

In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, defending champion Edmund Serem will battle two-time winner Abraham Kibiwot and his elder brother Amos Serem. The 5,000m race will feature 2023 World Cross Country Under-20 champion Ishmael Rokitto alongside Cornelius Kemboi and Denis Kipkemoi, who will take on Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa and Fasika Ayele.

The sprints will also deliver fireworks, with newly crowned world 200m bronze medallist Bryan Levell lining up against South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, American Kyree King and Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie. In the 400m, Samukonga faces South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, while African 100m recordholder Omanyala headlines the 100m field against Canada’s Aaron Brown, American Brandon Hicklin and South Africa’s Gift Leotlela.

Korir emphasized that this year’s edition marks a historic shift, as the meet will be held at night for the first time, aligning it with global standards seen in Diamond League events. He urged fans to turn up in large numbers to support both Kenyan and international athletes, promising an electrifying evening of world-class athletics in Nairobi.