It's a race against time as Athletics Kenya (AK) seek to enter a team for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships slated for November 3-6 this year in Chiang Mai Thailand.
According to the itinerary, the World Mountain Running Association Council meeting will be held on November 3 before paving way for the event proper.
According to the World Mountain Running Association, participating countries are supposed to enter their preliminary teams by the end of this month and the final squad in October 2022.
According to the rules, junior athletes taking part in the event should be between the 16 and 19 as of December 31, 2022.
The lower age limit for the senior mountain races is 18 as of December 31, 2022, while the lower age limit for the trail races is 20 by December 31, 2022.
AK Mountain Running coordinator Peter Angwenyi said it would have been a good idea to hold trials but noted that this would be subject to the availability of funds.
“It will be fair to hold trials so that we give all potential athletes a chance to fight for a place in the team for the global show. If this is approved, we want to have the trials in Longonot, Nakuru County,” Angwenyi noted.
Angwenyi said Kenya will enter a team of 24 junior and senior athletes. “Four athletes will take part in each event but only the first three will score for the team,” he said.
He further added that he is impressed with the performance of Kenyans in various mountain-running events across Europe.
Patrick Kipngeno, 29, who won three out of three Mountain Running circuit races in Europe, is one of the top performers.
“He has been a revelation of the 2022 circuit so far and I hope he will maintain the form ahead of the Thailand event,” Angwenyi.
The Run2gether athlete is hoping to represent Kenya at the World championships in Thailand.
