AK postponed weekend meetings due to lack of venue, says official

Athletics Kenya (AK) has deferred their first AK/NBK Weekend Meeting that was to get underway on Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium to next week.

The two-day championships postponed owing to the unavailability of the venue will now be now held March 15 to 16 at the same venue.

Nyayo National Stadium is being used as tallying centre by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

“We urge the athletes to continue with their training wherever they are in preparation for the event,” AK public relations officer Peter Angwenyi said.

The championships will also be used to select the men’s and women’s teams for the Penny Relay Teams Championships slated for April 27 in Philadelphia, United States of America.

For the first time Kenyan women will compete in the 4x400M and 4x800M. There will also be a medley relay for men apart from the normal relays. 

“I appeal to all 400m and 400m/Hurdles men and women athletes to turn up for selection at the event,” said Angwenyi.

Youth championships

The national youth team to represent the country in the first Africa youth championships in Nigeria will also be selected in the same day.

“The federation is appealing to all youth athletes to bring with them their birth certificates or admission letters for verification,” Angwenyi said.

Only those born between 1997-1998 will be eligible for selection and not 1996 and 1997 as earlier reported.

The championship is part of the track and field preparations for the World Championships in Moscow Russia, later this year.

Meanwhile, the national team for World Cross Country Championships stepped up their training in Kigari, Embu a day after reporting back.

The team broke camp last Friday to enable athletes participate in the March 4 General Election.

Among the players in training is the new inclusion in junior men’s 8km team, Michael Bett, who was placed seventh at the National Cross Country Championships.

Bett has replaced Bernard Kipkemoi, who finished fifth during the national trials. Kipkemoi was dropped from the team over what AK termed as unavoidable technicalities.

Consequently, the official opening of the camp that was due for Wednesday was postponed to next week during which, the final teams will be named.  

Coaches, led by Sammy Rono, will rule on which three athletes to drop from the provisional squad ahead of the team’s March 20 departure to Poland.

The World Championship in Moscow will be held in August this year.