The federation will run two events in the opening week of March, first up being the national cross country championship on 2 March. This will serve as a qualifier for the World Athletics Cross Country
Athletics Kenya (AK), who had been forced to postpone upcoming trials following the untimely death of Kelvin Kiptum, have now announced new dates.
The federation will run two events in the opening week of March, first up being the national cross country championship on 2 March. This will serve as a qualifier for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships set for Belgrade, Serbia on 30 March.
The second event of the week will be a two-day trial for the upcoming Africa Games slated for Ghana 8 to 23 March in Ghana. The trials are set for 5 and 6 March.
For the continental games, Kenya will be looking to name a strong squad as the country looks to reclaim top spot in athletics, a feat they came short in back in 2019 when Kenya finished second to Nigeria with 20 medals while the West Africans had 3 bronze medals more. Both sides bagged 10 gold and 7 silver medals.
Among the titles Kenya will be out to defend include the men's 1500m won by Elijah Manangoi in 2019 when the games were last held, Robert Kiprop's 5000m title, Benjamin Kigen's 3000m steeplechase gold, 20km walk won by Samuel Gathimba, Julius Yego's Javelin gold and Titus Ekiru's half marathon win.
The women produced four gold medals including Qualyne Kiprop's gold in 1500m to complete a Kenyan double, Lilian Kasait's 5000m title, 400m hurdles won by Vanice Nyagisera and Emily Ngii's 20km walk gold.
The script is not so different for the global cross country championship as Kenya will be out to defend the overall title they won in Bathurst in 2023 with two individual gold medals to defend as well.
Beatrice Chebet is expected to make the team and go back-to-back on the senior women title while the U20 men's title won by Ishmael Kipkurui the last time out is also up for grabs.
Kenya will also look to wrestle the senior men's title from Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo and the U20 women's title from Ethiopia, Senayet Getachew having won it last year.