Surprises and upsets were the order of the day during the Kenyan trials for the 2025 World Athletics Championships at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi on Tuesday.
At the end of the day Athletics Kenya (AK) duly picked 58 athletes for the biennial showpiece that will be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
It was an explosive one-day trials that will now be followed by residential training for the selected athletes in Eldoret before relocating to Nairobi after the African Nations Championships (Chan) end on August 30.
The selection saw the return of 2021 Tokyo Olympics marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir to the women’s marathon team, setting her up for her maiden World Championships.
Legendary distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, is also set to race in Tokyo, catapulting her to a possible fifth world title. However, she was named as a reserve member of the women’s marathon team.
It is in Japan where Cheruiyot secured her first World Championships medal, silver in 5,000m in 2007 Osaka.
The 41-year-old Cheruiyot won a double in 10,000m and 5,000m at the 2011 Daegu World Championships, having won her first world title in 5,000m in 2009. She would retain her 10,000m title at the 2015 world edition.
The women’s marathon team also has the 2025 Rotterdam Marathon champion Jackline Cherono and Magdalene Masai, who finished fourth at Tokyo Marathon in May this year.
Masai, the sister to the 2009 world 10,000m champion Linet Masai, won in Lanzhou besides securing second place finishes at Frankfurt and Sevilla marathons last year.
Janeth Chepngetich (right) celebrates with Agnes Ngetich and Beatrice Chebet on July 22, 2025 during Athletics Kenya National Trials for World Championship at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The 2023 Berlin Marathon silver medallist Vincent Kipkemoi will lead Kenya’s charge in men’s marathon.
Also in the team is Eric Kiplagat Sang, who secured third place at Hamburg Marathon and Paris Half Marathon champion Kennedy Kimutai.
Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet will once again double in Tokyo over the same distance after settling for third spot in 10,000m in 30:27.38.
The race was won by African Games 10,000m champion Janeth Chepng’etich in 30:27.02 as the 10km and 5km world record holder Agnes Ng’etich finished second in 30:27.38.
She will also double in 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo.
Chebet, Ng’etich and Margaret Akidor will team up with defending world 5,000m Faith Kipyegon in the 5,000m battle.
Kipyegon, who did not take part in the trials, will also double in 5,000m and 1,500m where she was handed wild cards.
The great Kipyegon will be seeking to nail her fourth title in the metric mile race. Kipyegon will team up in women’s 1,500m with Nelly Chepchirchir who won the trials in 4:05.09.
Joining the duo are Susan Ejore and Dorcus Ewoi, who finished second and third in 4:04.24 and 4:08.09 respectively.
Fast-rising prodigy Phanuel Koech, who is fresh from winning his maiden Diamond League race in London in a blistering meeting record of 3:28.82 on Saturday, was handed a wild card in men’s 1,500m.
The 18-year-old Koech, who is the world under-20 record holder, will partner with 2022 world under-20 1,500m gold medallist Reynold Kipkorir who won the trials in 3:48.96
Second was 2019 world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, who finished second in 3:49.07.
Reynold Cheruiyot (left) Brian Kemboi and Timothy Cheruiyot (right) deep to the finishing line 1500m finals on 22nd July 2025 during Athletics Kenya National Trials for World Championship at Ulinzi Sports Complex
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Africa and African Games 1,500m champion Brian Komen, finished third and just missed out.
Nicholas Kimeli was the only one named in men’s 5,000m with the trials winner African Games 5,000metres bronze medallist Cornelius Kemboi (13:38.46) and second placed Matthew Kipchumba Kipsang (13.38.37), failing to get the qualifying time.
Kemboi and Kipsang have until the closing date of August 25 to attain the qualifying standards of 13:01.00.
Jacob Krop, the 2022 world silver and 2023 world bronze medallist, finished a distant 11th to completely miss out.
There were surprises in men’s 800m when the 2021 Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ferguson Rotich, Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, Africa 800m champion Aaron Cheminingwa and African Games 800m champion Alex Ngeno all missed out alongside the 2021 world under-20 800m champion Noah Kibet.
Little-known Nicholas Kiplangat Kebenei and Kelvin Kimtai Loti reigned supreme during the men’s 800m trials for a 1-2 finish in times of 1:43.54 and 1:43.90 respectively and will now join Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who was handed a wild card.
Africa silver medallist Lilian Odira, Odira, Vivian Chebet and Africa and world under-20 800m champion Sarah Moraa claimed their places in the 800m where they will be joined by World champion Mary Moraa who is not race in Ulinzi on Tuesday.
