AK prefers joint trials for global events

The Commonwealth and World Athletics Championships trials will be held simultaneously on June 24-25 at Kasarani stadium. 

The announcement was done by Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei and his National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) counterpart Paul Tergat in a joint press conference in Nairobi yesterday.  The two leaders insisted on having one strong team to take part in the two global events. 

Tuwei reminded the athletes that the selection criteria will remain the same where the first two across the line will make the team with the third subjected to a panel of selectors. 

“Besides individual performance, we shall also look at factors such as meeting the qualifying marks as well as the anti-doping requirements,” Tuwei said. 

He told the athletes they are required to undergo three mandatory out-of-competition tests and extensive anti-doping education seminars. 

However, Tuwei noted that Diamond League winners will gain automatic qualification for the World biannual Championships that will be held in the US for the first time. 

“All the other rules and requirements are there for everyone to see and comprehend,” added Tuwei. 

Tergat said they had requested AK to postpone the national trials for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games that had been scheduled for May 20-21 to give athletes more time to prepare for the event. 

Close to each other

The World Athletics Championships will be held from July 15-24 in Oregon while the Commonwealth Games are slated for July 28-August 8 in Birmingham, England. 

“As you are all aware the World Championships and Commonwealth Games will be happening very close to each other, so our mandate is to send the best team to both events, the athletes who will go to Oregon will be the same to represent Kenya in Birmingham,” said Tergat. 

Kenya collected 17 medals; four gold, seven silver and six bronze at the Gold Coast Games and 11 medals; five gold, two silver and four bronze in the Doha championships.