Athletics Kenya has made some changes to the national junior team ahead of the World Under-20 Championships to be held in Cali, Colombia on August 1-6.

With the deadline to submit entries at the World Athletics portal set for this weekend, some athletes without identification cards have been effectively ruled out. Among the biggest beneficiaries is 5000m runner Nelson Mandela who was third during the national trials last Saturday at the Nyayo National Stadium.

“I am happy to have had this golden chance to represent my country. God has answered my prayers despite missing the automatic slot on Saturday,” said Mandela upon reporting to camp on Thursday evening.

Mandela has replaced Shadrack Rono who finished second during the trials but failed to produce his documents. He will team up with trials winner Samuel Kibathi in the 5,000m team.

The men’s 400m will only have one representative Elikanah Kiprotich who won the trials, second-placed Samuel Toili too failed to present his documents on time and was struck out of the team.

The men’s 800m too had changes with trials winner Brian Kiptum also failing to secure his travel documents on time.

Team manager Joseph Ilovi said AK is pressed with the time factor and has had to make a few changes to the team. As a result, Kenya will be taking 28 athletes 14 women and a similar number for men.

“We have deadlines that must be adhered to, in some cases the athletes have attained 18 or 19 years but don’t have a national identification card, so in such cases, you can’t apply for a passport without an ID. So we have been forced to make replacements where applicable,”Ilovi said.

Yesterday the national team assembled at the Riadha house where they were received by Ilovi, head coach Robert Ngisirei and sprints coach Perpetual Mbutu before proceeding to camp at Sportsview Hotel where they will be based for the next three weeks.

Kenya topped the medal standings with 11 medals (six gold, four silver, and one bronze) in Tampere, Finland in 2018 before successfully defending the title on home soil with 16 medals (Eight gold, One silver & seven bronze) in 2021, coach Ngisirei is confident the team is up to task when the global world junior event commences.