Athletics Kenya (AK) will use tomorrow’s annual National Cross Country Championships to conduct thorough age verification as well as monitor the performance of the junior stars in preparation for the World Under 20 Championships.

Youth committee member Eliud Wambua revealed that the objective of the programme was to have athletes in the right age bracket compete at the biennial event slated for August 17-22 in Nairobi.

The committee will also reflect on the performances posted by the athletes and thereafter develop an elaborate plan for their training programme.

“We shall be able to identify which camps the athletes are coming from since AK has been conducting countrywide camps training for the Under 20 Championships.

It will be important to note that from the event on Saturday, the best performing athletes who are unattached to any camp will also be selected and placed in existing camps accordingly as per their potentials,” revealed Wambua.

Wambua also said that the under 20 pre-trials event held in Nairobi last November gave the federation a glimpse of what to expect as preps intensify for the global event.

“With the postponement of the global extravaganza, the athletes born in 2001 were locked out on age criteria. Fortunately, it means we also gain through those born in 2015. So I can say we lost and gained in equal measure. So yes, we have a strong team,” he stated.

Wambua further disclosed that the committee has lined up camps in April where potential athletes will undergo specialized training.

The early Thursday morning meeting was chaired by Youth Committee boss Barnaba Korir,also present was members Elizabeth Keitany, Marylin Lasoi, Henry Lebo, Joseph Ilovi, Erastus Kabugi and head coach Robert Ngisirei.