AK set to name team for World Half Marathon

The Kenyan team for World Half Marathon to be held in Gdynia, Poland in March 29 will be named on Thursday.

According to Athletics Kenya (AK) Vice President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii, the technical committee will be meeting on Tuesday to select the team of 10 athletes, comprising of three athletes each in the men and women categories.

There will be two reserves named for both categories, thus bringing the total to 10. Mutwii revealed that the selection process will be informed by the World Athletics rankings.

“We will be sitting on Tuesday with the technical committee to begin the process of selecting the athletes and by Thursday we should release their names. We will begin with those who did not make the marathon team for Olympics and most importantly we shall also base our selection on time according to the World Athletics rankings,” said Mutwii.

With barely six weeks remaining to the biennial event, Mutwii said the naming of the team has dragged on due to numerous engagements they have had with the probable athletes.

“Our intention was to name the team early for the athletes to prepare adequately but you know sometimes it is a challenge because not all athletes are available and so you have to find those who are not engaged elsewhere,” he said.

Mutwii further disclosed that the team will be open to not only the athletes competing in Half Marathon with those competing in full marathon also capable of making the cut.

Defending champion and world record holder over the distance Geoffrey Kamworor is widely expected to highlight the team after missing out on the marathon team for Olympic Games that was named a fortnight ago.

Kamworor’s decision to pull out of the Africa Cross Country Championships to be held in Togo in April 8 further hints that he will be seeking a fourth consecutive title after bagging the 2014, 2016 and 2018 titles.