Boost for Ferdinand Omanyala and Co as Kip Keino Classic Introduces New Technology at Nyayo Stadium

Organisers of the seventh edition of the Kip Keino Classic, set for April 24 at Nyayo National Stadium, are aiming for record-breaking performances by introducing wavelight technology at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event.

The innovative trackside LED pacing system, which will be a highlight of the nighttime meet, is designed to help athletes achieve faster times by providing a visual guide for their target pace.

First used at the 2018 FBK Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands, the wavelight system consists of lights installed along the track's inside rail. These lights flash in a wave-like motion, inspiring their name, at a pre-determined speed for specific races.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Kennedy Tanui, the competition director for the Kip Keino Classic, believes the technology offers a significant advantage over traditional human pacemakers.

"We want fast times at our event, being the second of the 11 gold tour events this year," Tanui explained as quoted by Nation Sport.

He noted that the technology will be used in the 100m, 200m, 800m, 1,500m, and 10,000m events. "No one has called for any record, but we want to set that mood."

The technology has received strong endorsements from elite athletes who have used it to achieve historic milestones.

Two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who famously broke the two-hour marathon barrier with the aid of a laser pace car, praised the innovation.

"It’s great to see the technology assisting the sportsmen and women. It brings satisfaction to all those involved, especially athletes," said Kipchoge. "The world of sport is about partnerships, and technology has connected the sports enthusiasts."

Mary Moraa, the Commonwealth Games 800m champion, also credited the system for her 600m world record in Berlin. "After pacesetters drop, some early, wavelight helps to keep the pace. It helped me," she said.

The effectiveness of wavelight technology is well-documented. Faith Kipyegon used it to shatter the women's 1,500m and one-mile world records in 2023.

Similarly, Beatrice Chebet set a new women's 10,000m world record, and Joshua Cheptegei broke the men's 5,000m and 10,000m world records, all with the assistance of the trackside lights.

The concept, however, dates back further than its modern application. Jos Hermens, CEO of Global Sports Communication, is considered a pioneer after using a rudimentary light system to break the one-hour world record in 1976. Volunteers manually switched lights every 68.5 seconds to help him maintain an even pace.