150 athletes have been invited for World Championships trials set for the 22nd of this month at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
According to Athletics Kenya, only athletes who have met the set standards have been invited for the 1-day trials.
Among the requirements are:
- Undertaken a minimum of three (3) no-notice out-of-competition tests which must have been conducted throughout the 10-month period from 29 October 2024 to 29 August 2025.
- The first test must have been completed by 24 May 2025. Athletes who do not have at least one no-notice out-of-competition test completed by this date have not been invited to compete, regardless of the number of tests conducted thereafter.
Selection Criteria
The first two athletes across the finish line, provided they have qualification times, will be selected, while those willing to double in Tokyo will be subjected to the selection panel, except the two defending champions.
The third athlete in selected events in which more than two representatives are needed will also be a prerogative of the selection panel.
Also, athletes qualifying after the trials and before the window closes will be considered provided the discipline quota is not filled and provided they have met all the requirements and criteria.
Defending champions Faith Kipyegon (1500m, 5000m) and Mary Moraa (800m) have been handed direct tickets to defend their titles in Tokyo.
Equally, Kenya will field four athletes each in the 1500 m women, 5000 m women and 800 m women in Tokyo.
14 events have been lined up for the trials, including 100m for men and women, 400m for men and women, 400m hurdles for men, 800m for men and women, 1500m for men and women, 3000m steeplechase for men and women and 5000m for men.
Other events will be 10000 m women, 20 km walk men, javelin men, long jump men, 4 by 100 m men and women, 4 by 400 m men and women, and 4 by 400 m mixed.
So far 8 athletes have punched their tickets, including Kipyegon (1500,5000m), Moraa (800 m), Edwin Kurgat, Ishmael Rokitto, and Benson Kiplangat (10,000 m), and Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, and Margaret Akidor (5,000 m).
The 20th World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 13 to 21 September 2025 at the Japan National Stadium.
Kenya will be aiming to better its 2023 performance after finishing 4th with 12 medals: 3 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze.
