Absa Kip Keino Classic: What time is Mary Moraa, Letsile Tebogo & Ferdinand Omanyala running?

Here is the day’s programme as the Absa Kip Keino Classic takes centre with some of the world’s top athletes lighting up Nyayo National Stadium.

The Absa Kip Keino Classic is finally here as it begins in the morning of Saturday April 20 at Nyayo National Stadium.

Men’s triple jump will be the first event on the roster, starting at 11am, followed by the men’s shot put 15 minutes later.

At 12.30pm, the men’s javelin throw will take centre stage led by 2015 world champion Julius Yego.

There will be a short break before the afternoon programme starts proper with the men’s 10,000m at 2pm. This will be followed by the women’s hammer throw at 2.12pm with the men’s 400m hurdles (2.45pm) and women’s 400m (2.55pm) later.

Kenyans can then look forward to the women’s 5,000m starting at 3.05pm with the likes of Faith Chepkoech, Maureen Cherotich and Margaret Kipkemboi in the race.

At 3.30pm, the men’s 400m, which has Kenya’s Zablon Ekwam, Kennedy Muthoki and Bayapo Ndori from Botswana, will take place before giving way to the men’s 400m at 3.40pm.

This will be followed by the women’s high jump at 3.45pm after which the star attractions will get on the track.

At 4.05pm, the women’s 100m that has Kenya’s Esther Mbagari, Namibia’s Chritsine Mboma and American Shannon Ray, will thrill fans, giving way to one of the crowds’ favourite, the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at 4.13pm.

It will be an all East African affair in the race with Kenya having 11 of the 17 entrants, five Ethiopians and a Ugandan. It will be followed by the men’s hammer throw at 4.15pm.

At 4.30pm, Kenyans will be anticipating a Mary Moraa dance when the women’s 800m takes place.

Moraa will face stiff competition from Uganda’s Halima Nakaayi, the 2019 world champion, with Kenyan compatriots Sarah Moraa, Naomi Korir, Nelly Jepkosgei, Vivian Kiprotoich and Nelly Chepchirchir offering her support.

After Moraa and co, it will be the time of one of the event’s big stars as Letsile Tebogo takes to the track in the men’s 200m at 4.43pm.

Kenya’s Samuel Waweru, American Courtney Lindsley, who has the second-best time on the list, and Micaiah Harris are the other athletes to watch out for in the race.

At 4.50pm, it will be the turn of the men’s 1,500m with Reynold Cheruiyot, Charles Simotwo, Boaz Kiprugut and Kamar Etyang among the 10 Kenyans in the race, after which the women’s 3,00m steeplechase will follow at 5.02pm.

This will be followed by the women’s 400m hurdles at 5.23pm which will give way to the men’s 800m that has big hitters in defending champion and world silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Olympic silver medallist Ferguson Rotich, former world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, African Games 1,500m bronze medallist Abel Kipsang among others, starting at 5.31pm.

The penultimate event of the day will be the women’s 1,500m that has Kenyans Edinah Jebitok, and Winny Chebet among the star attractions.

The Kip Keino Classic will end with the men’s 100m where another showdown between Ferdinand Omanyala and American Kenny Bednarek is on the cards.

Former national champion Mark Otieno will also be in the race as he bids to announce his comeback in a major way.