AK; Strict rules for Athletes as they camp for training at Kasarani

  • A team of 47 athletes was selected by the Athletics Kenya for the World Athletics Championships and a similar number for the “Club” Games

• The training is amid the World Athletics Championships which is set to run from July 15 to 24 in Oregon, United States

• Kenya finished second with 11 medals; five gold, two silver, and four bronze during the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships.

 Athletes have been warned by Athletics Kenya not to leave the training camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani without permission.

This is according to the AK Chief Administrative Officer Susan Kamau in a statement on Monday saying the team management, and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) is yet to decide whether to allow some athletes to compete in the Stockholm Diamond League that is set to be held on Thursday in Sweden.

Kamau added that it will be wise for the athletes in camp to concentrate on their preparations and that they will make a decision on whom to release if possible.

“Nevertheless, we shall make a decision on whom to release if possible,” said Kamau, adding that members of the athletics team selected on Saturday are already in camp at Kasarani.

She reiterated that they’ve been working on their documentation and all is well and ready for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

“We have been working on their documentation and all is well. We are ready for the world event and Commonwealth Games. We shall be giving updates on the progress of the team,” said Kamau.

A team of 47 athletes was selected by the Athletics Kenya for the World Athletics Championships and a similar number for the “Club” Games with several athletes required to double up in the two competitions.

This has seen the return of some veteran athletes including Conselsus Kipruto and Wycliffe Kinyamal who are set to compete in Oregon.

Kipruto won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, 2017 and 2019 World Championships. He also won the World Youth and in 2012 the World Junior titles in the steeplechase. He also ranks second on the all-time junior lists with 8:01.16. He set his personal best of 8:00.12 minutes at the Birmingham Diamond League event in 2016.

Kimanyal who holds a personal best of 1:43.12 minutes is due for his maiden World Athletics Championships and he has not represented Kenya since his victory at the Commonwealth Games title in 2018 in Australia due to injuries.

He finished second in the 400m at the Kenya Police Service Athletics Championships, before winning the 800m title in April.

Others are the 2015 World Military Games 1,500m champion Selah Jepleting and World Half Marathon silver Kibiwott Kandie who only settled for places in the Commonwealth Games team due to various reasons.

Kandie, the Kenya Defence Forces champion, who has been in and out of action due to a knee injury did not attain the qualifying mark for Oregon.

It also witnessed the continuous rise of some athletes like Amos Serem, World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Jackline Chepkoech and Abel Kipsang in 1,500m.

The World Athletics Championships will run from July 15 to 24 in Oregon, United States followed by the Commonwealth Games on July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England.

After Stockholm, the next Diamond League is on August 6 in Silesia, Poland.

Kenya finished second with 11 medals; five gold, two silver, and four bronze during the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships.

Team Kenya at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Team Kenya collected 16 medals in athletes at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games; four gold, seven silver and five bronze, a performance that saw them finish fifth overall in athletics.

The country finished 14th overall with the only other medal coming from boxing through Christine Ongare who won bronze.