Kenya (AK) released a participation and selection criteria ahead of the national trials for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on Saturday, December 10 at the Kenya Prisons Training College, Ruiru.
Unlike the previous years when the cross-country trials were held at the end of February, this time due to Australian Visa application processes guidelines, the trials will come earlier, officials said.
The national governing body said those who meet the guidelines will be invited to compete.
To qualify for the meet, one must have competed in at least one of the five Athletic Kenya Cross Country Series and emerged in the top 12.
Also, those runners who participated in international meetings and emerged top 10 also qualify for the trials where a team will be picked for the world event programmed for February 18 next year in Bathurst, Australia.
The regulation will apply to women’s under 20 six kilometers, men’s under 20 eight kilometers, senior men’s 10 kilometers and senior women’s 10 kilometers races.
“Those who participated in the 2km races in Ol Kalou and Iten and finished in the top eight will be allowed at the trials. Athletes are also encouraged to carry their electronic passports and covid-19 vaccination certificate before being allowed to compete at the trials.”
“The first six athletes to cross the finish line will get automatic paces in Team Kenya with the seventh and eighth athletes being picked as reserves,” the statement read.
In the mixed relay, only the first three athletes to cross the finish line in both men’s and women’s 2km races will automatically qualify with the fourth and fifth athletes being picked as reserves.
While in the under-20 category, participants should have been born between the years 2004 and 2007.
Some notable names invited for the trials include Cynthia Chepngeno of Kenya Defence Forces, the winner of the first leg in Machakos, World 5000m silver medallist Beatrice Chebet, Stanley Waithaka, and Levi Kibet among others.
