Two-time world javelin champion Anderson Peters from Grenada landed in Kenya early today, ahead of the 6th Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour this Saturday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Peters, who won bronze in last year’s Paris Olympics, is making a return to the Kenyan gold tour meet since finishing 2nd in the 2023 edition at the Kasarani stadium in his first appearance.
Peters launched his 2025 campaign in March at the Grenada Championships, claiming top honours with a modest 74.90m throw.
He then opened his Diamond League season in Doha on May 16 with an impressive 85.64m, placing third behind Germany’s Julian Weber and 2020 Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra of India.
Peters finished 3rd last Friday with an 83.24m throw at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Chorzów, Poland.
“I’m looking forward to it. Last year’s meet had great conditions, especially the wind in the stadium. The crowd, the atmosphere – it was something I had never experienced before. I’m eager to see how this new venue compares and how the fans turn up again,” he noted.
In 2023, Peters finished runner-up with an 85.72 m throw behind Rohler (87.35m).
“Competing here is always special. I’ve always gone head-to-head with Julius Yego, whom I grew up watching on TV. He’s been a massive motivational figure for me, the first African and non-European to win a World Championship title. He paved the way for athletes like me and even others like Kishore Malkot. Being back in Kenya is like coming full circle,” he added.
The meet, which will be held at Ulinzi for the first time, has attracted 189,130 international and 59 local athletes.
The Kip Keino Classic will be the 6th stop of the gold-level events in the World Athletics calendar, which kicked off with the Maurie Plant meet in Australia on 29th March, followed by the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on 12th last month.
Japan staged the 3rd meet, the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, before paving the way for the 4th meet, the 75th Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Croatia.
Poland is scheduled to host the 5th round, the 7th Irena Szewińska Memorial, on the 30th of this month, a day before the Kenyan event.
