The first two athletes across the finish line at the national trials will make Team Kenya for the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has invited a total of 150 athletes for the one-day trials that will take place on July 22 at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
Athletics Kenya has also selected a tentative marathon team of 14; seven men and a similar number of women, for the world championships, but the team will be unveiled after the requisite procedure is followed.
AK’s director of competitions, Paul Mutwii was expected in Eldoret at the weekend to brief the marathoners, their coaches and their managers, as well as to seek approval for the athletes who need clearance from Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
With regard to the trials, Mutwii noted that athletes who qualify for world championships from the one-day trials will be considered only if they achieve the standards within the qualification window. The quota of the respective discipline must also allow the inclusion of such athletes into the team.
The end of the qualifying window is at midnight on August 24. However, the qualification window for the marathon elapsed on May 25 this year.
Beatrice Chebet wins the women's 5,000m in a world record 13:58.06 during the 50th Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in the USA on Jul 5, 2025.
Photo credit: Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“The selection of the third athlete where necessary, and the decision as to who gets to compete in more than one race will be made by the panel of selectors,” Mutwii said on Friday, adding that AK will also invite athletes that are closer to meeting the qualification standard and are well placed in world ranking.
Reigning world champions Faith Kipyegon (1,500 metres and 5,000m), Mary Moraa (800m) and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m) have been exempted from the trials. Mutwii said that all the invited athletes must confirm participation by replying to their invitation with a message containing their names and event. Such athletes must also pick their running bib numbers in person on the eve of the trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex between 9am to 5pm.
Mutwii said AK consulted the marathoners selected and their coaches to ascertain their availability before they can name the team in Team Kenya.
“In the past, we have named teams before consulting them, only for them to withdraw at the last minute. We want to get a commitment from them and more so get a firm clearance from AIU on their doping status. We must tighten the loose ends,” said Mutwii, adding that his technical panel will settle on the best three in each category and a reserve.
Kenya is yet to win the women’s marathon since the reigning marathon world record holder Ruth Chepng’etich in 2019 in Doha, while Geoffrey Kirui won the men’s title last for Kenya at the 2017 London.
AK selected the women’s 5,000m and men’s 10,000m teams during the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday in Oregon, United States of America.
Those in the women’s 5,000m team that will be joined by Kipyegon if she decides to double up are the reigning Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Ng’etich and Margaret Akidor.
The men’s team has Edwin Kurgat, Ismael Kipkirui and Benson Kiplagat.
