Athletics Kenya has yet to name the 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, and 4×400 mixed relay teams to represent the country because they have not met the qualification standard.

Ferdinand Omanyala, the African champion, is expected to lead the men’s 4x100m team to a championship in Liege, Belgium, on July 12, when they will seek to meet the qualification standards through the world ranking.

Meanwhile, the 4x400m mixed relay team is set to seek their qualification on July 29 in Germany, and the men’s 4x400m is placing their hope on the time registered during the national trials at Nyayo Stadium. Their time puts them 14th in the world, and only the top 16 will qualify for the August championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Kipyegon, Kimeli to double up

Meanwhile, Faith Kipyegon and Nicholas Kimeli are the sportspeople on the team that will double up in Budapest. Kipyegon will feature in the 1500m and the 5,000m, while Kimeli will feature in the 5,000m and in the 10,000m races.

Kipyegon is going to team up with Beatrice Chebet, Margaret Chelimo, and Lilian Kasait in the 10,000-meter race. Chebet finished sixth in the 1,500m race, even though she had been exempted from competing in the 5,000m.

Both Kipyegon and Chebet already had wild cards for the Budapest Athletics Championship. By virtue of being the defending champion, Kipyegon’s place in the championship was secured.

Winning the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, and the 5,000m in the final of last season’s Diamond League is what assured Chebet a place in the showpiece that will be held in Hungary.

Kipyegon, Chebet’s wild cards

After breaking records in the Florence and Paris Diamond League circuits, Kipyegon is hoping to bag a hat trick in the 1,500 metres in Budapest. She was the World Athletics Championship silver medalist in the 2015 Beijing and 2019 Doha editions.

Kenya’s hope of reclaiming the title that was won by Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia in Oregon in 2022 lies on the shoulders of Kipyegon, Chebet, Lilian Kasait, and Margaret Chelimo.

Team Kenya will move to Kasarani for their residential training this week.

Men’s team

100m: Ferdinand Omanyala; 400m: Boniface Mweresa; 800m: Emmanuel Korir, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Alex Ng’eno, Ferguson Rotich; 1,500m: Timothy Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, and Reynold Kipkorir.

5,000m: Nicholas Kimeli, Jacob Krop, Daniel Simiu, and Cornelius Kemboi; 10,000m: Nicholas Kimeli, Bernard Kibet, and Kibiwott Kandie; 3,000m steeplechase: Simon Koech, Abraham Kibiwott, and Leonard Bett

20km race walk: Samuel Gathimba; 4x100m (four athletes to qualify); 4x400m (Wycliffe Kinyamal, Kennedy Kimeu, Zablon Ekwam, and Kelvin Sawe Tauta – to qualify)

Marathon: Titus Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat, Joshua Belet, Bethwell Kipchumba (reserve), Michael Githae (reserve); Javelin: Julius Yego.

Women’s team

800m: Mary Moraa, Peninah Mutisya, Vivian Kiprotich, Naomi Korir; 1,500m: Faith Kipyegon, Nelly Chepchirchir, Edinah Jebitok; 5,000m: Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Lilian Kasait, Margaret Chelimo.

10,000m: Irene Kamais, Agnes Jebet, and Grace Loibach; 20km race walk: Emily Ngii (area champions subject to approval); 4x400m mixed relay: Mercy Okech, Maureen Thomas, and Millicent Ndoro – To qualify); Marathon: Rosemary Wanjiru, Selly Kaptich, and Shyline Jepkorir. Betty Chepkwony (reserve), Margaret Wangari (reserve)

Team Management

Team Manager: David Bunei

Assistant Team Manager: Abdulahi Salat

Chaperone: Mary Chege

Head of Technical: Ibrahim Hussein

Administration: Charlotte Kurgoy

Head coach: Julius Kirwa

Coaches

Assistant Head Coach: David Letting

100m/400m/400m hurdles-coaches: Josphat Maiyo, Pascaline Jelegat, Duncan Ayiemba

Middle distance coaches: Bernard Ouma, Jebet Lagat, and Alex Sang

Long-distance coaches:  William Chebii, Esther Maina, James Mutisya, and Jacob Lagat

Marathon coaches: Abraham Kiplimo, Isaac Kirwa, and Amos Korir

Javelin coaches: Everline Jerotich, Gabriel Otwane

Physiotherapists: Jessica Shiraku, Japheth Kariakim, and John Mayaka

Quality Assurance: Benjamin Njoga (head), Patrick Sang, Milcah Chemos, David Rudisha