TOP TWO WILL QUALIFY FOR SURE AT KENYAN TRIALS, by Alfons Juck, EME News NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan media are writing that the one-day event, which will bring together a mix of new talents and elites (Kenyan World Trials) on July 13 will be used to pick the team to the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships that runs in Moscow. Athletics Kenya vice president David Okeyo said the first two athletes to cross the line will earn automatic slots to national team. “We will use our traditional criteria of a 1-2 finish to pick automatic places in team as long as they have met the qualifying times and the third slot will be decided by a panel of selectors,” Okeyo said. He said those who have not qualified will be accepted in men’s 200m and 400m races to allow them try and push for qualifying standards. AK released names of 132 men and 60 women athletes who have attained the qualifying mark, having already named the marathon team of 10 athletes. Men’s line-up are Bernard Kipyego, Bernard Koech, Michael Kipyego, Nicholas Kipkemboi and Peter Some on reserve. World champion Edna Kiplagat leads women charges that has 2012 Dubai marathon winner Lucy Kabuu, Margaret Akai, Eunice Chepkirui and late entrant Agnes Jeruto Barsosio. The Safaricom-sponsored trials, which will start at 12pm with men’s 10 000 m and javelin, will see AK introduce entertainment sessions before events. Gospel artist Emmy Kosgei and musician Jaguar will entertain the gathering before the kids athletics. “We want to be fair to all athletes. Only Julius Yego of javelin has the Standard ‘A’ mark. All defending champions and Diamond League winners have a wild card but it’s within the discretion of the federation to enter if they feel the athlete is fit for competition,” said Okeyo. He said world 800m record holder David Rudisha is slowly recovering and should he recover well before world championships, he will be in the team. “We hope he will be well to join the team. He is the defending and will have a wild card. His doctors have sent us the scanned X-ray and our doctors here said he would be well,” he said.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 21:38:06 +0000