Athletics Kenya announce Commonwealth Games selection criteria

The first three athletes across the finish line during the Kenya trials will make the team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The trials will be held on February 16 to 17 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi.

However, Athletics Kenya senior vice president in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii disclosed that the 1-2-3 criteria will not be used in some events especially in sprints and field.

Kenya intends to pick a team of 65 athletes - 36 men and 29 women for the Gold Coast “Club” Games that will be held from April 4 to 15 in Australia.

Mutwii explained that the first three across the line will be of selected in both men and women’s 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m.

“The selection will be based on the allocation from the Commonwealth Games Federation organisers,” said Mutwii.

Kenya has been allocated two slots in men’s 110 hurdles an none in women’s 110 hurdles.

The country will have two representatives each in men and women’s 200m, three in men’s 400m and two in women’s 400m.

Top three men will make it in 400m hurdles and two in the women’s contest while 20km race walk will have two athletes each for the men and women’s events.

The country will enter one high jumper in the men’s competition. Kenya will also be represented by an athlete each in men and women’s long and triple jump.
Kenya will have two male representative in javelin, one woman in heptathlon and one man in decathlon.

While the track events will take place at the MISC main arena that will tentatively be closed for the trials, the field events will be held at the warm up track area.

Kenya topped the medal standings in athletics at the 2014 Glasgow Games in Scotland with 23 medals - 10 gold, 10 silver and three bronze.