AK: All must run in Kenyan meetings
A past cross country championships in Nandi Hills. Photo/FILE
Athletics Kenya has, on the eve of the new 2010/2011 athletics season, reiterated its warning to elite runners that they will not be selected for international duty if they skip the local cross country series.
Paul Mutwii, the AK vice chairman, said athletes must take the weekend cross country meetings seriously to build on their endurance and fitness as a new season starts in Matuu on Saturday.
Over 300 athletes competing in five different categories are expected to grace the first edition of the 2010-2011 KCB/AK cross country meeting that will be staged at the Matuu High School grounds.
“We have decided to take cross country to the people. That is why we are eying new grounds and for the first time, we have moved it from Machakos to Matuu and I hope it will entice the youth to take up athletics,” said Mutwii.
There will be a 4km cross country race for the schools in Matuu for children from nine years to 14. This will be alongside the main four categories of cross country races – 6km junior men, 8km junior women, 8km senior men and 12km senior men.
Qualify for selection
“All elite athletes are required to participate in two competitions either in track or cross country locally for them to qualify for selection for any championship the country competes in,” said AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat.
In Matuu, newly crowned Berlin Marathon champion Patrick Makau will lead several local athletes in the event including former World Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Elizabeth Mueni, World Youth 2,000m silver medallist Lucia Kameni Muia and Fridah Kaimuri.
Others are Patrick Ivuti, Nicholas Kamakya, Bonface Wambua and John Nzau, who won three of the six legs of last year’s series.
Mutwii said the region is eying to enter several athletes in the national team for the World Cross Country Championship, which will be held in Punta Umbria, Spain on March 20.
Kenya claimed nine out of the 12 medals that were on offer in Bydgoszcz, Poland during the World Cross Country Championship.
