Sprinter Justin Gatlin among top athletes expected to headline Kip Keino Classic
By Amos Abuga, September 16, 2021
Three-time world champion Justin Gatlin is among the leading world stars who were due to arrive in the country in the early hours of Thursday for the second edition of the Kip Keino Classic set for Saturday.
The 2004 Olympic champion is among the leading stars set to light up the Kasarani Stadium during the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour meeting in Nairobi.
Gatlin was expected to jet in at the JKIA at 2:55am today morning aboard a Turkish Airlines TK 607 before checking in at the Ole Sereni Hotel.
Gatlin has been confirmed for the event alongside compatriot Trayvon Bromell, meaning the world’s two fastest men this year will be at the Kip Classic.
Bromell and Olympic silver medallist Fred Kerley were due to arrive at 7:10am aboard Qatar Airways QR 1335.
The two will compete with local hero Ferdinand Omanyala, spice up what is expected to be a stellar competition on Saturday evening.
Kerley who can do 400m, 200m and 100m has settled for the former at Kip Keino Classic.
Omanyala is the fastest man in Kenya and became the first to run under 10 secs.
He will look to break the barrier on home soil at the same venue he earned his first ever ticket to the Olympic Games.
With Trayvon and Gatlin as competition, they might just push him to achieve a good time on high altitude.
The 39-year-old Gatlin, the silver medallist from the 2019 World Championships in Doha, is the fifth all-time fastest man.