• Elsewhere, 2016 Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler is eager to make his maiden appearance at the event. Rohler arrived in the country on Thursday night.
• Nowicki said he is looking forward to an excellent outcome at the competition as he prepares to defend his title at the Paris Games in the summer.
Image: HANDOUT
Olympic hammer throw champion Wojciech Nowicki cannot wait to get his season up and running at Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic at the Nyayo Stadium.
Nowicki said he is looking forward to an excellent outcome at the competition as he prepares to defend his title at the Paris Games in the summer.
“The main goal is the Olympic Games and the European Championships. This Saturday, I will start my season…it is my first competition (of the year) so we will see how it works out. We are in April and I am not yet in a good shape but I will try to do my best,” the Pole said.
Nowicki is returning to Kenya for the fourth time, having first competed at the second edition of this World Continental Tour Gold event where he finished second.
He returned in 2022 to finally clinch top honour before repeating the trick at last year’s edition – both of which were staged at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
Reflecting on the Kip Keino Classic, Nowicki had nothing but glowing words for the event.
“Last time, I was happy. I think it is an amazing competition because there are many spectators. For me, it is the perfect place to start off my season. I am happy to be here once again and thank you for the invitation,” Nowicki said.
He will be up against an elite field that includes fellow countryman, Pawel Fadjeck, who beat him to first place in 2021.
Despite dominating the Kip Keino Classic since then, Nowicki is careful not to believe that history will repeat itself on Saturday.
The Pole says he will assess the level of competition before coming up with a conclusion on what to expect moving ahead.
“I want to first see how they’ll perform. I know this will be the first competition of the year for most of us. It’s three months to the Olympics so I am not focusing on it now. I want to see how far I will throw on Saturday. Then I will think about the European Championships because they are for me a test before the Olympics,” he said.
Nowicki arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday night in time for Saturday’s showdown.
Elsewhere, 2016 Olympic javelin champion Thomas Rohler is eager to make his maiden appearance at the event. Rohler arrived in the country on Thursday night.
The German immediately made note of the welcoming atmosphere at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), stating that Kenya indeed is the place to start off his season in 2024.
“It is my first time in Kenya and I am really happy to be here. I am glad to be here. Kenyans are a huge track and field nation so it makes sense to compete here and have a great meet,” Rohler said.
The German has been grappling with injuries and hasn’t been able to build on the gold he clinched at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Top of his to-do list at Nyayo National Stadium is successfully kickstarting his journey to top fitness even as the clock ticks towards the summer Olympics in Paris.
“I am taking it step by step and building up to get back to the bigger distances. It’s the beginning of the season so it is still training time…preparing for what is to come. I am really glad for the opportunity to compete here in Kenya. It is a really big stage,” Rohler said.
Despite being out of action for a while, the German says he has been keeping an eye on the events in javelin and chanced upon the Kip Keino Classic as a must-attend competition.
“I saw that Herman threw a personal best at last year’s edition and when the chance to compete at this year’s edition, I did not hesitate to take it up. I am a travelling athlete and so this was a good opportunity to visit Kenya,” he said.
He will come up against familiar faces including the man who he beat to gold at the Rio Olympics, home crowd favourite Julius Yego, Kip Keino Classic defending champion Timothy Herman of Belgium as well as the 2015 world silver medalist Abdelrahman Ihab of Egypt.
Kip Keino Classic hammer throw champions
2020: Lingua Marco -Italy
2021: Pawel Fajdek-Poland
2022: Wojcieh Nowicki
2023: Wojcieh Nowicki