Obiri, Conseslus set for Kip Keino Classic meet

Athletics - 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships - Aarhus, Denmark - March 30, 2019, Kenya's Hellen Obiri celebrates winning the women's race. [REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel]

World champions Conseslus Kipruto, Hellen Obiri and Timothy Cheruiyot are among top athletes lined up for Nairobi World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series at Nyayo Stadium on October 3. 

Conseslus will compete in 3000m steeplechase battling Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali, Ethiopia's Nigete Melesa, who have confirmed their participation at the event dubbed Kip Keino Classic. 

Cheruiyot, the current 1500m leader, will lead the 1500m event alongside Bethwel Birgen, Charles Simotwo, Bahraini’s Abraham Rotich and others. 

Obiri will anchor a strong Kenyan squad that include world under-20 champion Beatrice Chebet, Eva Cherono, Agnes Tirop, Mercy Cherono against Ethiopian duo of Minsewi Aberash and Dawit Seyaum as well as Burundian Francine Niyonsaba, who has opted to compete in 5000m. 

While releasing the entry for the meets core events, meet director Barnaba Korir said entries will close on Friday. 

“We are having the final entries at the moment and the closing date is on Friday. All the invited athletes will be put in one hotel according to the world athletics regulations while the athletes competing in the national category will be in a separate hotel,” said Korir. 

Sprinters Mike Mokamba, Peter Mwai will contest in men’s 200m that has attracted Ivorian Arthur Cisse, Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, Emmanuel Ojali of Nigeria and Mike Rogers of Unite States.

There are five core events this season – the 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus throw and hammer throw. 

Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto gives a thumb up after setting a new Olympic record when winning the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016. [AP Photo/Matt Slocum]