Athletes eye African Championships slots

Elite Kenyan athletes who will compete in Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA, will be considered for the African Championships due June 21 -26 in Durban.

The 18 athletes who were due to leave Tuesday night for the race which is fourth leg of the IAAF Diamond League, will miss out on the three-day Safaricom National Championships starting tomorrow at Kasarani where Kenya will choose a team for the continental event.

Athletics Kenya president, Lieutenant General (rtd) Jackson Tuwei said Kenya will adopt the usual criteria in selecting the team, with the first two across the line at Kasarani getting automatic places in the team. A panel of selectors will decide on who gets the third slot in the team in event.

“We shall give opportunities to those willing to go to Durban from the Prefontaine lot since the Africa event will help us gauge our preparedness for the Olympics,” said Tuwei, who was flanked by vice presidents Paul Mutwii and Jinaro Kibet and AK’s director of youth and development, Barnabas Korir.

Tuwei said AK will put more emphasis on performances in sprint and field events, relays as well as race walk at the national trials and Africa Championships with a view of qualifying more athletes for the Olympics.

While AK has reverted to the initial dates of June 30 to July 1 for Olympics trials, Tuwei said they will meet National Olympic Committee of Kenya (N0c-K) on the venue for ther trials, although Eldoret remains the tentative venue.

Among those heading to Prefontaine Classic are World Half Marathon and Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor, World 5,000 silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi and World 10,000m bronze medallist Paul Tanui, who will battle in 5,000m race.

Other Kenyans for the race are 2013 World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat, 2012 London Olympics 5,000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa, Cornelius Kangogo, Clement Lagat and 2008 Olympics 5,000m bronze medallist Edwin Soi.

Reigning three-time World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, World 1,500m silver medallist Elijah Manangoi, Commonwealth 1,500m champion James Magut and Silas Kiplagat will compete in the iconic Bowerman Mile race.

World 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett will race as will 2013 World 5,000m silver medallist Mercy Cherono, 2013 World 1,500m bronze medallist Hellen Obiri, 2012 London Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Sally Kipyego and Betsy Saina will field in 5,000m race.

Most athletes would like to compete in both the African Championships and Olympics, considering that one-and-half months separates the two events.
Kenya won 25 medals-seven gold, eight silver and 10 bronze- to finish third during the 2014 Africa Championships held in Marrakech, Morocco. South Africa topped with 10-5-4 followed by Nigeria 8-9-7.

With most elite athletes having expressed reservation on Eldoret as the venue for the Olympic trials, Tuwei said they will have to convene a session with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya to see the way forward.

“I don’t want to go into details about that but all I can say is that we want to give our athletes the best opportunity to qualify for the Olympics,” said Tuwei adding that they reverted to the original dates of the trials from June 14 to 15 after realising that most would have missed the Oslo (June 9) and Stockholm (June 6) legs of Diamond League.