Sight on World U20 trials as Kenyan juniors step up preps

The national athletics Under-20 head coach Robert Ng'isirei has expressed optimism Athletics Kenya (AK) will send top of the cream athletes to the World Athletics Under-20 Championships scheduled for August 1 to 6 in Cali, Colombia.

Ng’isirei, who accompanied officials from AK on a tour to Kea Camp in Mwingi, said over 1200 athletes are spread across different camps in the country preparing for the national trials of the world junior competition.

The tactician also said the much-awaited school games, scheduled to make a return next term, will play a major role in helping the junior athletes hit top form before the national trials to be held in July at Kasarani.

“We’ve started inspection in all the 26 camps in the country to see how the junior athletes are preparing for the trials and so far we’ve gone in about five camps and we’re impressed. We hope to get the best from the national trials because our target is to defend the overall title we won last year in Nairobi.

“With school games resuming immediately the school reopen that will ensure that what the athletes learned in the camps will be sustained during the inter-school games and it will help them to keep fit before the trials,” said Ng’isirei.

Naomi Kimanzi, who participated in last year’s Eldoret City Marathon in 3000m, said she has set her eyes on making the cut for Team Kenya during the trials.

"I’m ready to face the other athletes from other camps and am determined to make in the team Kenya to Colombia,” Kimanzi said.

Alex Matiti, a 1500metres athlete, believes he will make it too, despite the many challenges including lack of training kits and shoes.

"Have been training since 2017, and have participating in several trials and am determined to emerge as one of the athletes to represent Kenya internationally,” Matiti told Citizen Digital.

According to the camp director Catherine Makau, wife to the former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau, they are targeting to select the best group to take part in the national trials.