Kip Keino Classic: American sprint star Gabby Thomas in Nairobi ahead of race

American sprint star Gabby Thomas is in town, ahead of the KipKeino Classic where where she will line up in both the 100m and 200m races and not the earlier communicated 400 metres.

The Meet Director and CEO of the Continental Tour Gold event, Barnaba Korir, confirmed that Thomas has already arrived in the country and started training ahead of the competition scheduled for Friday, April 24 at Nyayo National Stadium.

"Gabby Thomas, as I announced, is already here in Nairobi and has started training this morning. She will be running 100 metres. Yesterday when we arrived together at the airport, she requested to also run in the 200 metres," Korir said.

Her decision to double in both sprint events has added anticipation to the meet, with organisers expecting a strong competitive field and heightened interest in the women's sprint races. Thomas' presence also boosts the international profile of the Continental Tour Gold meeting, which continues to attract elite athletes from around the world.

Thomas is among the most prominent sprinters on the global circuit, known for her pace and consistency in the 100m and 200m. Her appearance in Nairobi offers a rare opportunity for local athletes to test themselves against top-tier competition in front of a home crowd.

The Kip Keino Classic has grown into one of Africa's leading athletics meetings under the World Athletics Continental Tour, serving as both a high-performance stage for established stars and a development platform for emerging Kenyan talent.

With athletes already arriving and final preparations underway, focus now turns to Friday’s competition. Organisers are expecting a high-quality meet, with several world-class names using the event as an early-season benchmark.