After a dramatic win in the women's 1500m at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon has turned her focus to next Saturday's Kip Keino Classic at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
Confirming the latest development, meet director Barnaba Korir said Kipyegon's entry raises the profile of the one-day event, which will be held in Kenya for the second time since the first edition in October last year.
"With just over a week to go, we are happy with the interest we are receiving both from foreign and local athletes. We will continue to unveil more athletes in due course," Korir said.
Kipyegon ran away with the 2021 Diamond League 1500m crown in the Swiss capital after she clocked 3:58.33 to defeat her arch-rival, Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan who timed 3:58:55, ahead of American Josette Norris who finished third in 4:00.41.
It was a repeat of the Tokyo Olympics where Kipyegon clocked an Olympic record of 3:53.11 to win her second successive crown, ahead of Briton Laura Muir (3:54.50) and Hassan (3:55.86) in second and third respectively.
The Kenyan's entry for the Kip Keino Classic adds to the number of big names in stellar start list for the one-day championship.
In the men's 100m, national record holder Ferdinand Omanyala will be looking to prove that his hot streak is no fluke when he pits himself against the who-is-who in athletics.
Two-time world champion Justin Gatlin and Trayvon Bromell, the world's fastest man, have all confirmed their participation for the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event.
In the women's 200m, it will be an all-African affair as the continent's best performers at Tokyo battle for glory at the 60,000-seater stadium.
Olympic silver medalist Christine Mboma of Namibia will be seeking to close out the year on a high and will be joined by Ivorian Marie-Jossee Ta Lou — who finished fifth in Tokyo — and compatriot Beatrice Masilingi who finished sixth.
Mboma has already tasted victory on Kenyan soil, timing 21.84 to win the women's 200m at August's World Under 20 Championship. Masilingi clinched silver in 22.18 whereas Nigerian Favour Ofili who took bronze in 22.23.
So far, 265 participants — 80 local and 185 international athletes — have confirmed entry for the meet that will be held behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We had initially thought of Nyayo Stadium but decided to shift to Moi Stadium, Kasarani due to better facilities at the latter venue. The launch of the meet is set for this Monday at Ole Sereni Hotel,"Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei said.
