Athletes will converge on Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi to fight for places in Team Kenya that will compete in the 2025 World Athletics Championships slated for September 13-21 in Tokyo.
Athletics Kenya is keen to select a strong team that will represent Kenya at the 20th edition of the games in Tokyo. Kenya finished fifth with 10 medals at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
The one-day event has attracted top athletes. Seven athletes were selected to represent Kenya in Tokyo in men’s 10,000m race from the 2025 Prefontaine Classic.
US-based athletes Edwin Kurgat and Ishmael Kipkurui and Benson Kiplangat will carry Kenya’s flag high in the distance, while defending champion Faith Kipyegon leads Kenya’s charge in women’s 5,000m race that will also feature Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich and Margaret Akidor.
US-based Edwin Kurgat second (right) and other athletes train at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County on July 27, 2024,
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Women’s 10,000m race has attracted some of the finest athletes in the distance, what with two world record holders set to do battle.
Ngetich who is the world 10km record holder, is seeking to double in the women’s 5,00m and 10,000m races in Tokyo. She will be joined in the 5,000m race by world record holder Beatrice Chebet.
Chebet broke the 10,000m record when she clocked 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic last year before clinching the Olympics titles in the 10,000m and 5,000m races.
Ngetich who has a personal best time of 30 minutes and three seconds, told Nation Sport yesterday that she is looking forward to a good race.
"I’m in good shape this year and basically I just want to make the national team, then I can plan from there. But first, I want to earn a place in Team Kenya for the world championships,” she said.
Africa Games 10,000m champion, Janeth Chepngetich (30:04.94), the World Road Running Half Marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline (30:07.42), Africa Cross Country champion Cintia Chepngeno (30:17.0), Lilian Kasait (29:26.89), Miriam Chebet (30:32.90), Grace Loibach (31:34), Gladys Kwamboka (30:24), Loice Chemnung (29:57) and Rebecca Mwangi (32:28.17) will feature in the race.
Kenya's Benson Kiplangat celebrates with the flag after winning the men's 5,000 metres final during the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 19, 2021.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
In the men’s 5,000m race, Olympics 5,000m silver medalist Ronald Kwemoi who has a personal best of 13:02.56 will do battle with Jacob Krop (12:45.71). Krop is seeking to improve on his bronze medal he won at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Others in the race are Nicholas Kipkorir (12:46.33), Benson Kiplangat (12:58.78), Andrew Alamisi (13:03.30), Emmanuel Kiprop (13:06.71), Cornelius Kemboi (13:00.68), Emmanuel Kiplagat (13:00.90), Richard Etir (13:00.17), and Stanley Waithaka (13:05.21).
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Olympics bronze medalist Faith Cherotich will be up against US-based Doris Lemngole who has the third fastest this season, Pamela Kosgei who is a student at the University of New Mexico, Jackline Chepkoech, Oklahoma University student Leah Jeruto, Caren Chebet and Celestine Biwott.
The men’s 3,000m steeplechase has attracted former World Under-20 bronze medalist Simon Koech, the World Under-20 champion Edmund Serem, the Olympics bronze medalist Abraham Kibiwott, former World Under-20 champion Amos Serem among others.
Kenya's Mary Moraa celebrates after winning women's 800 metres race during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 20, 2024.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The 800m women’s race will see the World Champion Mary Moraa battle it out with the Africa champion Sarah Moraa, Africa silver medalist Lilian Odira, Judy Kosgei, Naomi Korir, Vivian Chebet among others.
The men’s 800m race will see the Olympics champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi battle it out with the two-time Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, US-based Festus Kiplagat, Kelvin Loti, Laban Chepkwony, Cornelius Tuwei, Aaron Cheminingwa, Alex Ngeno among others.
Kenya's Julius Yego takes part in the men's javelin throw during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 20, 2024.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
In the field events, former World Javelin champion Julius Yego will be competing against Alexander Kiprotich and Duncan Kinyanchui Mong’are.
The 20km race walk has attracted four athletes who include Stephen Ndangiri, Samuel Gathimba, Heristone Wanyonyi and Dominic Ndigiti.
According to AK, the first two to cross the line so long as they have qualification time will make the team with the third athlete being determined by the selection panel.
