Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-04 13:37:24
Athletics Kenya is set to announce the team that will represent Kenya at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Tunis on February 25. The announcement was delayed from Saturday to Monday due to limited time for the selectors to convene after the Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Gold Tour meeting at Lobo Village in Eldoret. According to meet director Barnaba Korir, there is a race against time as the selectors aim to pick a strong team with just a few days left before the Tunis competition.
Korir confirmed that the team will be named on Monday, and the selected athletes will need to start residential training as soon as possible due to the limited time ahead of the event. The criteria for selection is simple: the first six athletes across the line in every category will be chosen, provided that they are eligible and available. Korir expressed confidence that the selected athletes will honour and represent the country in the upcoming event.
The last edition of the Africa Cross Country Championships was held in 2018 in Chlef, Algeria. The subsequent edition, which was scheduled to be held in Togo in 2020, was postponed due to Covid-19 and was eventually cancelled in 2021.
In the 2018 edition, Kenya clinched three gold medals through Alfred Barkach and Celliphine Chespol in the senior categories, with Rhonex Kipruto winning the junior title. Margaret Chelimo and Julius Kogo settled for silver medals in the women’s and men’s senior categories, respectively, while Stanley Waithaka bagged a silver medal in the eight-kilometre junior category, and Hellen Ekalale settled for bronze in the junior women’s race. Kenya also earned silver in the mixed relay through Charles Simotwo, Emily Chebet, Bethwel Birgen, and Winfred Mbithe.
In addition to the Africa Cross Country Championships, the federation will hold national trials for the World Country Championships on March 9 at the Kenya Prisons Training College in Ruiru, Kiambu County. Another team is expected to be selected for the global meet in Belgrade, Serbia.
Paul Mutwii, Athletics Kenya’s Vice President and Director of Competitions, highlighted the packed season and expressed confidence in Kenya’s representation in various upcoming events. He urged athletes to continue training and working hard towards achieving their goals and emphasized the importance of clean competition.
Overall, the focus is on preparing a strong team to represent Kenya at the Africa Cross Country Championships, as well as in other upcoming global events. The athletes selected are expected to undergo residential training to ensure they are well-prepared for the competitions ahead.
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