Just like last year in the run up to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in Paris, Athletics Kenya will use Prefontaine Classic to help Kenyans qualify for World Athletics Championships that will be held in Tokyo, Japan.
The federation announced that both the men’s 10,000m and women 5,000m trials will be held on the American soil on July 5th at the Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
A statement from federation said the decision to hold the national trials for the two disciplines in Oregon is because of the competitive nature of the Diamond League event.
“It is on the backdrop of these outstanding exploits (past success by Kenyans at Prefontaine Classic) that we are convicted that this year’s national trials for the two disciplines will be equally competitive, thus producing a final team of world-class athletes capable of sweeping the podium in Tokyo,” AK said.
The federation further clarified that the selection of athletes to represent Kenya in the men’s 5000m and women’s 10,000m will be undertaken during the national trials for the global competition.
During last year trials, Beatrice Chebet set world record in 10,000m at 28:54.14 followed by Lilian Kasait (29:26.89) and Margaret Chelimo (29:27.59) while Daniel Mateiko won the men’s title in 26:50.81, leading Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli (26:50.94) and Bernard Kibet (26:51.09).
“Kenya has a rich history and connection with this prestigious event where several of our athletes have over the years shone and etched their names in record books with memorable performances,” they said.