Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medalist Edward Zakayo was handed the wild card as Athletics Kenya picked a formidable 63 member squad ahead of 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Assaba, Nigeria.
Zakayo, a form three student at Kapsait secondary school finished third in the 5,000m was handed the wild card together with raining world 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi as curtains came down on Saturday during the Athletics Kenya Track and field national championships cum Africa Trials at Kasarani stadium.
Manangoi, the 2018 Commonwealth champion was handed the wild card after losing his sister the same day of the finalists hence missing out on the finals but he had won the semi finals.
Zakayo, who won his 5,000m race during the World Under-20 Championships trials last week, got the nod in the men’s 5,000m team that also has fellow teenager Samuel Chebolet and experienced Cyrus Rutto.
Others named include Timothy Cheruiyot and Charles Simotwo. Cheruiyot, the world and Commonwealth 1,500m silver medallist, effortlessly claimed the final in three minutes, 34.82 seconds as Simotwo timed 3:36.86, the 2015 world 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett (400m hurdles), Commonwealth 10,000m silver medallist Stacy Ndiwa (10,000m), Emmanuel Korir (800m) and Jane Chege (400m hurdles).
Kenya squad for Nigeria 2018
Men 100m
Mark Otieno
Peter Mwai
Women 100m
Joan Cherono
Women 110m/100m
Priscila Tabunda
Men 200m
Peter Mwai Ndichu
Women 200m
Eunice Kadogo
Millicet Ndoro
Men 400m
Alphonce Kishoyian
Jared Momanyi
Boniface Mweresa
Women 400m
Maximilla Imali
Veronica Mutua
Nivean Michia
Men 400m hurdles
Aron Koech
William Mbevi
Women 400m hurdles
Maureen Jelagat
Jane Chege
Men 800m
Jonathan Kitilit
Ferguson Rotich
Emmanuel Korir
Women 800m
Emily Cherotich
Eunice Sum
Margaret Nyairera
Men 1500m
Timothy Cheruiyot
Charles Simatwo
Elijah Manangoi
Women 1500m
Winny Chebet
Mary Kuria
Judith Kiyeng
Men 3000m s/c
Conseslus Kipruto
Amos Kirui
Kennedy Njiru
Women 3000m s/c
Beatrice Chepkoech
Celphine Chespol
Fancy Cherono
Men 5000m
Samuel Chebolei
Cyrus Rutto
Edward Zakayo
Women 5000m
Helen Obiri
Lilian Kasait
Loise Chemning
Men 10,000m
Vincent Rono
Josphat Kibett
Kipsang Temoi
Women 10000m
Pauline Korkwiang
Alice Aprot
Stacy Ndiwa
Men 20km walk
Samuel Gathimba
Simon Wachira
Women 20km
Grace Wanjiru
Emily Ngii