AK confident of Team Kenya despite star Commonwealth snubs

Athletics Kenya (AK) is confident it will send world beaters to the Commonwealth Games despite the decision by some of the country’s top cream to snub the April 4-15 showpiece.

Trials for the Games begin on Friday at the Kasarani Stadium with decathlon followed by other disciplines on Saturday yet most household names in the country have indicated they will not attend.

Eyebrows were raised when the marathon team was named last month with athletics enthusiasts showing little faith in the group but AK president Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei has backed them to go on and shine.

“The marathon team has been training in Ngong and I know there has been criticism about the selection. We stick to the team we selected because I know it’s a good team. Furthermore, there were no other marathoners that wanted to go and represent the country.

“The Games have come very early so most athletes had their own individual events like the World Half Marathon and other city marathons which is only understandable that they concentrate on them,” Tuwei said.

The AK boss said the team naming will be done on Saturday afternoon and declared there is still an open window for invited athletes to get accredited for the Games which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia.

Bar the women’s 5000m where AK selectors will pick the top two runners, all other events will have an automatic selection of the first three athletes across the line.

“There are some athletes who requested to be exempted from the trials including World champion Hellen Obiri who is hunting time for the World Indoor events but would like to participate at the Commonwealth Games,” Tuwei clarified.

AK also revealed that they will name its team for the IAAF World Indoor Championships scheduled for March 1-4 , Birmingham, Great Britain on Monday 19.

Tags:

Athletics Kenya Hellen Obiri Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei 2018 Commonwealth Games

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories