About 200 budding athletes are expected to compete for Central Rift World under 20 pre-trials this Saturday at the Eliud Kipchoge Annex Track in Kapsabet, Nandi County.
Region’s secretary Kennedy Tanui said that the preparations are done in readiness for the junior athletes that will represent the region at the national trials to select Kenya team for the world under 20 athletics Championships set for between August 17th and 22nd.
“We have all systems in place ready to roll on Saturday. This will be the first time the murrum track at the new facility will be tested,” said Tanui.
He added that the stadium, which was 100% fully constructed by the county government of Nandi, will see athletes from hosts Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Baringo battle for slots.
Among those who will be chasing the national slot will be javelin thrower Shadrack Kipkogei who wants to feature into the junior team.
“We have a heavy task ahead of us in athletics. Once we are done with under 20 pre-trials, we have Olympic Games pre-trials again, meaning the calendar is fully booked,” added Tanui, who is the Athletics Kenya team manager ahead of the Olympic Games.
Kipkogei said he is also well prepared for the pre-trials as he wishes to emulate former world javelin champion Julius Yego.
“I have thrown 62m which I posted during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Rift Valley region and hopes to improve on it if he gets a javelin coach to sharpen up his skills,” said Kipkogei.
Athletics Kenya (AK) youth and development chairman, Barnabas Korir, said they want to use the regional events as a build-up for the national trials in a bid to pick the best team for World Under-20 Championships.
“This is an opportunity for our Kenyan talents to be showcased at different levels. We started in Machakos and heading to central rift, we hope to get the best,” said Korir.