Kenya Prisons head of sports Catherine Ndereba expects epic showdowns at the department's track and field championships this weekend at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The two-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist expects Prisons to pick a formidable team for the national championships.
“We expect to have a great event. We want our players to qualify for the coming national event to represent the prisons department,” said the four-time Boston Marathon champion.
Sending a strong team to the national championships will be key for athletes in attaining Paris Olympic Games qualifying times.
In the women’s 5,000m final, Valencia 10km Road Race bronze medallist Lilian Kasait will go head-to-head with 2023 Berlin Marathon silver medalist Sheila Chepkirui.
Joining them are Paris 10km Road Race runner-up Loice Chemining and Seoul Marathon bronze medallist Viciline Jepkesho.
Kasait will also compete in the women’s 10,000m, facing off against Jepkesho, Chemining, and 2012 Valencia Half Marathon champion Alice Mogire.
The 2018 World U20 silver medallist Mirriam Cherop headlines the women’s 1,500m final alongside Beatrice Chemutai.
The 2019 Africa U20 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Caren Chebet and the 2019 Africa U20 champion Fancy Cherono are among the top guns in the water and barrier contest.
National women’s 100m champion Esther Mbagari aims to maintain her winning form as she competes off Heat 2 alongside Linda Apok, Doreen Ntinyari, Josephine Wanjala and Faith Mueni.
The men’s 10,000m final will feature a star-studded field led by 2014 Madrid Half Marathon Champion Peter Emase.
Emase will face off against the 2007 world 1,500m youth champion Fredrick Musyoki, 2015 Paris Marathon champion Mark Korir and the 2009 Africa Junior 5,000m silver medallist John Mwangangi.
Also in the mix are Malaga Marathon champion Charles Mneria, 2016 Africa 10,000m silver medallist Wilfred Kimitei and Cornelius Kangogo.
Emase will also compete in the 5,000m final against seasoned marathoners like Daniel Too and Luke Kibet, Mwangangi, Kangongo, and Kimitei.
The 2016 African racewalk champion Samuel Gathimba will headline the men's 10km walk race fourth-place finisher at the 2019 African Games Simon Wachira.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot headlines the men’s 1,500m semifinals, off heat 1.
Heat 2 will feature fierce rivalry between the 2019 Africa U20 champion in the 800m Alex Ngeno, the 2017 African U20 champion in the 1,500m Boaz Kiprugut, the 2021 World U20 champion Vincent Keter and Shadrack Ngumbau.
