• Majority of the athletes will double at both events
• Only the Marathoners and a few athletes have picked one event
• The team is scheduled to start camp next week

A strong team has been selected for next month’s World Championships in Oregon and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after Athletics Kenya conducted two-day trials at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Friday and Saturday.

The team will virtually be the same with most athletes doubling in the two events apart from a few. The Marathoners were exempt from doubling due to the recovery period required between competition.

The World Championship starts on July 15 running through to 24^th while the Commonwealth Games start four days later running through to August 8.

While most will be doubling, there are some who will only be at the World Championships and not compete at the Commonwealth Games. Hellen Obiri will defend her 5,000m title at the Worlds and also double up with the 10,000m, but will not head to Birmingham.

Faith Kipyegon will also compete in the 1500m at the Worlds having been handed a Wild Card by virtue of being the Diamond League champion but will not be travelling to the Commonwealth Games.

Steeplechase queen Beatrice Chepkoech will also just compete at the Worlds as she is the defending champions and elected not to attend the trials and compete for a place in the Birmingham team.

At the same time, despite winning in the trials, Amos Serem (steeplechase) and Kibiwott Kandie (10,000m) will both not be at the Worlds despite making time as they have not satisfied all stringent requirements.

The two will however head to the Commonwealth Games.

Omanyala headlines the sprints field

Ferdinand Omanyala wins the men’s 100m

Kenyan sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala will compete at both the Worlds and Commonwealth Games. At the Worlds, he will be Kenya’s solo representative having attained qualification time with a 9.85sec run at the Kip Keino Classic.

For the Commonwealth Games team, he will be joined by Samuel Imeta who came second at the Trials after clocking 10.25secs. Omanyala clocked 10.03secs in winning the race and admitted he had to battle strong headwinds to win.

“It wasn’t possible to do a sub 10 because of the wind. The conditions were not very favourable but again if you look at it, it wasn’t a slow time. It’s a good build up and one that puts our bodies and mind in focus and now the ambition is to go out and do well,” said Omanyala.

Meanwhile, Mary Moraa will do two events in both Championships as she qualified for both the 800m and 400m. She broke the National record in winning the 400m on the second day of the trials storming to victory in 50.84secs.

Just the previous day, she had run a new Personal Best in the 800m and the victory in the 400m was a huge boost to her confidence heading into the two competitions.

Her time lowered Hellen Syombua’s 51.09 national mark set in 2019 and also allowed her qualification to the World Championships, with the mark set at 51.35secs.

Emmanuel Korir will also be in multiple competitions. He has qualified for the 400m and 800m at the Worlds, while he will compete in the 400m alongside Boniface Mweresa at the Commonwealth Games.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

The Kenyan team for the World Championships in Oregon

Men

100m – Ferdinand Omanyala

400m – Emmanuel Korir

400mH – Moitalel Mpoke

800m – Emmanuel Korir, Wycliffe Kinyamal, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Cornelius Tuwei

1,500m – Timothy Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, Kumari Taki, Charles Simotwo

3,000m Steeplechase – Conseslus Kipruto, Abraham Kibiwott, Leonard Bett, Benjamin Kigen

5,000m – Nicholas Kimeli, Jacob Krop, Daniel Simiu

10,000m – Stanley Waithaka, Daniel Mateiko, Rodgers Kwemoi

20km Walk – Samuel Gathimba

Marathon – Barnaba Kiptum, Geoffrey Kamworor, Lawrence Cherono

Women

400m – Mary Moraa

800m – Mary Moraa, Naomi Korir, Jarinter Mawia

1,500m – Faith Kipyegon, Winnie Chebet, Edinah Jebitok, Judy Kiyeng

3000m Steeplechase – Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech, Celliphine Chespol, Purity Kirui

5,000m – Hellen Obiri, Beatrice Chebet, Margaret Chelimo, Gloria Kite

10,000m – Hellen Obiri, Sheila Chepkurui, Margaret Chelimo

20km Walk – Emily Ngii

Marathon – Ruth Chepngetich, Peres Jepchirchir, Angela Tanui, Judith Jeptum

COMMONWEALTH GAMES TEAM

The Kenyan team for the Commonwealth Games

Men

100m – Ferdinand Omanyala, Samuel Imeta

200m – Mike Mokamba. Dan Kiviasi

400m – Emmanuel Korir, Boniface Mweresa

400mH – Wiseman Were

800m – Wycliffe Kinyamal, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Elias Ngeny

1,500m – Timothy Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, Kumari Taki

3,000m steeplechase – Amos Serem, Conseslus Kipruto, Abraham Kibiwott, Amos Kirui (Reserve)

5,000m – Nicholas Kimeli, Jacob Krop, Cornelius Kemboi

10,000m – Kibiwot Kandie, Edward Zakayo, Daniel Simiu

10km Walk – Samuel Gathimba

Javelin – Julius Yego

Marathon -Philemon Kacheran, Erick Kiptanui, Jonathan Korir, Michael Githae (Reserve)

Women

100m – Maximila Imali

200m -Maximila Imali

400m -Mary Moraa, Veronica Mutua

800m -Mary Moraa, Jarinter Mawia

1500m – Winnie Chebet, Edinah Jebitok

3,000m steeplechase – Jackline Chepkoech, Celliphine Chespol, Purity Kirui (Reserve)

5,000m – Selah Jepleting, Beatrice Chebet

10,000m – Sheila Chepkurui, Irene Cheptai

10km Walk – Emily Ngii

Marathon – Margaret Wangari, Stella Barsosio, Maureen Chepkemoi, Purity Changwony (Reserve)