Kip Keino Classic Brings Wavelight Tech to Nyayo, Eyes Record Times on April 24
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 trackside LED pacing system — first used at the 2018 FBK Games in Hengelo — flashes lights along the inner rail in a wave motion at a pre-set speed, giving athletes a visual target pace. It will be deployed across the 100m, 200m, 800m, 1,500m, and 10,000m events.
Competition director Kennedy Tanui was clear about the ambition: “We want fast times at our event, being the second of the 11 gold tour events this year. No one has called for any record, but we want to set that mood.”The technology has a proven track record at the highest level. Mary Moraa, the Commonwealth Games 800m champion, credited it for her 600m world record in Berlin: “After pacesetters drop, wavelight helps to keep the pace. It helped me.” Faith Kipyegon also used it to break the women’s 1,500m and one-mile world records in 2023, while Beatrice Chebet and Joshua Cheptegei set 10,000m world records with its assistance.