Kenya 10k Olympics trials set for Oregon
Organizers of the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League have officially confirmed Athletics Kenya will use the 10,000m race as the Olympic trials for team selection for both the men and women teams.
The move had previously attracted criticism from various quotas, more so athletics supporters, but was settled on as the best decision by AK citing time restrictions and the country’s altitude ahead of Paris Olympics.
“The organisers of the Prefontaine Classic and World Athletics have agreed to AK’s request and it’s a good idea to select the team early to give our runners ample time to prepare for Paris.” AK Director for Competitions Paul Mutwii announced in an early statement.
The trials will include 12 men and 14 women athletes who have attained qualifying times and importantly so fulfilled the anti-doping requirements. The Olympics qualifying times are set at 27:00:00 for men and 30:40:00 for women.
It will not be the first time Kenya will be using the Prefontaine Classic for Olympic qualification, having previously done so ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
Impossible here!
“Even if we were to hold the trials in the country, getting someone to qualify at altitude is next to impossible,” noted AK Director of Youth Affairs Barnaba Korir.
Kenya’s last gold medal in the 10,000m at the Olympics came in 1968 when the late Naftali Temu beat Ethiopia's Mamo Wolde to win the country’s first Olympic gold medal.
The country has produced silver medallists on four occasions; Paul Tanui (2016), Paul Tergat (2000/1996) and Richard Chelimo (1992). 
Chebet headlines women lineup
Kenya’s efforts at winning gold in the women ‘s category have also been largely futile in the past years, this year's push dependent on a field led by Beatrice Chebet.
The women’s lineup will include world 5k silver medalist Lilian Kasait, world cross country and 5k champion Beatrice Chebet, World half marathon silver and bronze medalists Magret Chelimo and Catherine Reline, Emmaculate Anyango and Cynthia Chepng’eno. Chebet will headline the lineup with stiff competition from world record holder Gudaf Tsegay
World silver medalists Daniel Simiyu and Samuel Waithaka, Nicholas Kimeli, Samuel Chebolei and former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie will form part of the men’s lineup.
The women's race is scheduled for 10.50 am while the men take on the track at 12.05 pm PT on Saturday, May 25.
The postponed National trials for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships 2024 are scheduled for Ulinzi Sports Complex from 21-22 May 2024 starting at 8:30 am. The event was supposed to have been held at the Nyayo Stadium from 16-18 May 2024.
