Strict visa rules for entering the United States of America (USA) and World Athletics' policies to crack down on age cheating have forced Kenya to hold its trials for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships earlier than usual.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has also changed its selection criteria. Rather than the first two athletes to cross the finish line being automatically selected, only the winner is guaranteed a place, with the second selection being made by a panel of selectors.
The 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships will take place in Eugene, Oregon, USA, from August 2 to 9.
Kenyan Hall of Famer Barnabas Korir, who is also Chairman of Youth Development Programme at Athletics Kenya, gestures in Nairobi on September 25, 2019.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Unlike before, when it was open to anyone who could prove their age with a passport, the three-day event will be strictly by invitation only.
Participants are required to collect their running bibs in person on Thursday. Barnaba Korir, AK's director for youth and development, said that the decision to bring the trials forward was strategically aimed at allowing ample time for athletes and officials to apply for American visas early.
“We also want to give the selected squad sufficient time to finalise their preparations,” said Korir. "All athletes must present original and authentic documentation to prove their age," said Korir.
He said that they have intensified efforts to stamp out age cheating, an offence which has already attracted heavy sanctions from World Athletics, with some Kenyan athletes having been stripped of their championship medals.
Korir disclosed that Athletics Kenya was unable to reveal the identities of the athletes who had been reprimanded.
“Some cases involve minors who were deceived by adults. Their medals have been taken away,” said Korir, adding that World Athletics would disclose their identities at the appropriate time while the investigation was ongoing.
Team Kenya will be hoping to outwit Team USA on home turf as the country hosts the championships for the second time, with the event returning to Hayward Field for the first time since 2014. Kenya and the USA have dominated the medal standings for the last 26 years, with Kenya winning the most medals in five editions and the USA in eight.
