The World School Cross Country trials will be held on March 28 at Nakuru High School. Speaking at the Local Organising Committee offices atthe Nyayo National Stadium yesterday, Deputy CEO of the committee Eliud Wambua said that plans are underway to accommodate the athletesin Nakuru come next week.”Femaleathletes will be accommodated at Nakuru Girls High School, while theboys will be sleeping at Nakuru High School.

The technical officials are already in Nakuru marking the course,” Wambua told PeopleSport. He added: “The loop has natural and artificial obstacles which are friendly to the athletes.

We have minimal obstacles in the under-12 and will increase as we head to the under-18 category. Nakuru will be a test-run for the main event to be held on 12th May at the NgongRace Course in Nairobi.” A total of 60 athletes will be selected to represent Kenya in U12, U15and U18 categories.

Kenya being the host will field a maximum of 10 boys and girls in each category. Athletes are expected to arrive on March 27 for vetting and registration and picking of their bib numbers. They will also have a feel of the course. The athletes must be born 2006 – 2011 and will be required to carry their original birth certificates, parents’ consent letter and school release letters. The athletes must be students with UPI numbers.

The shortlist of the athletes will be done on the trials and sent to ISSF (International Schools Sports Federation) for confirmation of entries and will be put in a residential camp in a venue to be decided by the local organising committee. This will ensure that Kenya wins the maximum medals available.

Meanwhile, youthful athletes from Chemelil Sugar, Factory Primary and Mashambani Primary Schools shined in the Chemelil Base Athletics Championships short-distance races and relays to book tickets to represent Chemelil Base in the Zonal Championships today (Friday).

During the neighbouring Tamu Base Primary Schools Athletics Championships in Muhoroni Sub-County, hosts Tamu Primary School emerged triumphant in ranking after chalking 105 points with second runners-up Yago Primary School garnering 97 points, followed by Achego Primary School in third place with 92 points and tail-enders Onenonam Primary School managing 82 points.

Sharon Masawa and Sarah Blessed of Chemelil Sugar Primary qualified in the 100-metre race girls category at Chemelil Sugar Sports Complex Stadium, to represent Chemelil Base in the Zonal Athletics Championship slated for the same venue today.

Ephy Bilian and Avrin Sema also qualified in the 100 metres from Factory Primary School.

Teammate Melvin Atieno from Chemelil Sugar Primary School clinched the 200 metres girls category race to qualify for the Zonal Athletics Championships, alongside Melon Akinyi from Factory Primary School, while in the 400 metres race, Maline Julian of Chemelil Sugar Primary and Sylvia Akoth also qualified.

In the boys 100 metres category, David Ochieng’ from Mashambani Primary School qualified to represent Chemelil Base in the Zonal Athletics Championships, while Antony Otieno from Chemelil B1 Primary also won the race category to qualify for the Zonal competition.

Yesterday, the Chemelil Sugar Primary School athletics officials team led by Hillary Kibet, supported by Briema Otieno, Charles Ochieng’, Tom Ochieng’Irene Cheptoo and Kevin Ager trained with the school qualifiers at Chemelil Sugar Sports Complex Stadium for the Zonal Athletics Championships.

Across in Tamu Base, Tamu Primary School athletics officials led by the chairman Francis Oduma, including Gordon Opondo, Sylvester Owich and the school’s games co-ordinator David Oyaro in an interview with People Daily exuded confidence in their preparations for the Zonal Champions and are optimistic of dethroning the Zonal Championships defending title holders Ogen Base, comprising Kopere Primary School, Songhor Primary School, Lwala And Nyangore Gul Primary Schools, respectively.