Kenya’s former world javelin champion and Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego celebrates his automatic qualification to Thursday’s Olympic Games javelin final. Photo | Elias Makori
An Olympic champion, two world champions and a Kip Keino Classic champion will go head-to-head in men’s javelin throw in the sixth edition of the Nairobi-held Continental Gold Tour meet at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi on May 31.
Organisers meanwhile, hope to raise over Sh2million from gate collection, funds that will be channelled to youth development programmes at selected camps in the country, they say.
The 2016 Rio Olympics men's javelin champion Thomas Rohler makes a return to the Kip Keino Classic, after he finished second with a throw of 80.62 metres last year.
German Rohler, the 2018 European champion, lost to debutante Gatis Cakss of Latvia, who hauled 81.74m in 2024.
Rohler, who has a personal best 93.90m will take on the 2015 world champion Julius Yego of Kenya, the 2019 Doha and 2022 Oregon World Championships gold medallist Anderson Peters from Grenada and 2023 meet champion Timothy Herman from Belgium.
Peters, who claimed bronze at the Paris Olympics last year, also returns to Kip Keino Classic for the second time. He finished second in 2023.
Peters with a personal best 93.07 is the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist and is fresh from claiming a third place at his season opening Doha Diamond League on Friday in 85.64 to reveal his form.
Peters finished behind winner Julian Weber (91.06m) of Germany and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (90.23m) from India.
Yego, the 2026 Rio Olympics silver medallist will renew his rivalry with both Rohler and Peters as he targets his maiden victory in Nairobi on his fourth appearance.
Yego’s best show was during the 2022 edition where he finished second. He placed fifth in 2023 and ninth last year.
Yego, the five-time Africa champion, has a personal best and Africa record of 92.72m from his victory at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China.
The 36-year-old 2014 Commonwealth Games champion opened his season with a ninth place (78.52m) at the Doha Diamond League.
Herman, who hauled a personal best 87.35 to triumph in 2023 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, will take another shot at the title at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Herman recently lost to Rohler at the 18. rocnik Hvezdneho hazeni, a World Athletics bronze tour event on May 11, managing 78.38m against 80.37m.
Also in entered is Ioannis Kyriazis of Greece, who won the European Throwing Cup (Winter) with a 84.38 effort on March 16.
Entry will be restricted to 10,000 people -- 8,000 for regular seating with entry charged at Sh200 and 2,000 for VIP whose tickets will retail at Sh2,000.
Event director Barnaba Korir disclosed that the funds will be used to purchase training equipment that includes running shoes for the youth training camps in Turkana, Garissa, Malindi’s Kijiwetanga, Budalangi and Moi Kaptama School in Bungoma.
“Ticket sales are online on a first come first serve basis,” said Korir.
Tickets can be purchased via tikiti.co.ke or through the code *519*55#.
