- From the quality field of competition to the cheerful spectators, it was yet another great occasion on track and field.
- The athletes from different parts of the world who took to this prestigious high-altitude fixture in Nairobi left an indelible impression on the hordes of fans who graced the occasion.
Image: COURTESY
By securing a long-term, reliable sponsorship from Absa Bank Kenya, organizers of the fifth edition of Kip Keino Classic 2024 had adequate resources to deliver a world-class showpiece at the Nyayo National Stadium.
From the quality field of competition to the cheerful spectators, it was yet another great occasion on track and field; with top athletics talent from Kenya and abroad battling it out for honours at the only Continental Tour Gold series event by World Athletics on African soil.
The athletes from different parts of the world who took to this prestigious high-altitude fixture in Nairobi left an indelible impression on the hordes of fans who graced the occasion.
Asked about the success story, Peter Waweru, the Head of Brand and Marketing at Absa Bank Kenya said:
“We celebrate with passion when our girls and boys bring back trophies and medals and give the world desirable labels, for instance, we are naturally associated with running just because of the success of our athletes globally.”
Waweru added:
“But apart from ardent sports fans, many of us will only take notice of our country’s best talents when they hit the headlines after powering through yet another world record or follow more keenly the global world athletics competition.”
Waweru said the Absa Kip Keino Classic is special for athletics fans in Kenya because it allowed them to not only see the global names compete but also cheer Kenyan athletes at home.
Since its inauguration in 2020, the Absa Kip Keino Classic has grown local interest in the journeys of our athletes.
Waweru went on to explain:
“We are not only seeing wider in-person attendance but even more Kenyans following online. This has not only grown the visibility of athletics but also inspired a new generation of runners on their way to global dominance. As a corporation, Absa was attracted to the sport by the opportunity it offered as a multi-faceted and dynamic sector to positively impact societies and economies."
He added:
“From the sport’s vast untapped business potential unlocking economic activity around logistics, accommodation, transportation, medical, security and technical planning, to its profound socio-economic and cultural significance; we always felt part of this story. Indeed, sports brings out resilience, determination, and sacrifice and that unites us all in Kenya.”
To underscore its commitment to sport, Absa Bank Kenya has invested heavily in Kenya’s sports sector ranging from athletics, football (through its sponsorship of the English Premier League), and golf in the last decade.
“We renewed our title sponsorship to the 2024 Absa Kip Keino Classic to the tune of Sh40 million. From this support, we have played a crucial part in catapulting our athletes to form part of amazing stories of athletics success in Kenya and Africa. To the athletes, we know that your story matters,” Waweru expounded.
This year’s Absa Kip Keino Classic presented yet another irresistible opportunity to savour the world-class flavour in Nairobi.
Forget about Ferdinand Omanyala being floored by America’s Olympic 200m silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek in his 100m speciality and Julius Yego having to exit the javelin competition after his first attempt due to injury.
The mood at Nyayo was simply electric as witnessed by the exuberant fans, with Mary Moraa and Wiseman Were making up for Omanayala’s and Yego’s failures.
American Bednarek clocked 9.91 sec in the scintillating 100m race to decimate a star-studded field to clinch gold.
Bednarek floored the African and Commonwealth 100m champion Omanyala who couldn’t register a podium while trying to make his presence felt on home soil.
A distant fifth on 10.03 was not what home fans quite anticipated from Omanyala who finished one spot ahead of compatriot Mark Otieno Odhiambo at position six in a time of 10.22.
World champion Mary Moraa clocked 1:57.96 to successfully defend her women's 800m title in an all-Kenyan affair as Nelly Chepchirchir (1:58.26) and Vivian Chebet (1:58.93) took second and third.
And it was a celebration galore as Chepchirchir, Chebet and fourth-placed Nelly Jepkosgei also qualified for the Paris Olympics.
African Men’s 400m hurdles bronze medalist Wiseman Were clocked 48.57 seconds to also qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics after storming to victory with a new Meeting Record.