Former Africa junior cross country champion Nicholas Kimeli will be battling out with Palio Della Quercia Rovereto 5,000m champion Michael Kibet at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The three day events that kicks off on Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th will bring together the best of the best track and field events Olympic Games trials set for Tokyo, Japan.
With both athletes already qualified for Olympic Games, Athletics Kenya will be using the trials to select the best team for the Olympic Games.
Kimeli, the winner of the Kipkeino Classic, the World Athletics Continental Tour said he has been preparing well for the championships as he seeks to debut at the Olympic Games after finishing 5th at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Sharpening his skills in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kimeli said he has been training well knowing the task ahead of him to beat his rivals to make the team.
“My focus now is to cut into the team Kenya. It has been a while, just preparing for the task ahead of me,” Kimeli.
He joined Jacob Krop at the world championships after national champion Daniel Simiu Ebenyo and Michael Kibet failed to meet the anti-doping requirements to represent the country at the global events.
On the flip-side, Kibet will be putting his 2019 agonies aside to focus on the trials. The athlete who set the 5000m Palio Della Quercia in Rovereto with a course record in Italy in 13:11.51 ahead of compatriot Erick Kiptanui (13:11.51) said the training has been intense and will need to be on top of his game to secure a slot.
“I missed the 2019 slot to compete for Kenya and this will be my right time to prove that I have the power to compete for the flag and the team too,” said Kibet, the two time Maria Soti cross country champion.
Kibet, who has dominated many cross country meetings in north rift added that everybody wants to earn the slot therefore making the competition stiffer. Last month, during the pre-trials, he won the 5,000m title which earned him the qualifying standards.
“This time, I have been tested six times, surpassing the four times mark as required by the anti-doping law for the global showpiece. If I get the opportunity to run for Kenya, I want to reach the finals and bring a medal,” said the 22 year old who trains in Kaptagat under Global Sports Communication.