Athletes eyeing a strong start to their 2026 campaign will have the perfect chance to gauge and sharpen their form early in the new year when the second Athletics Kenya Weekend Track and Field Meet storms the Thika Stadium from January 15–17.
The Thika meet will serve as a crucial tune-up ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster 2026 athletics calendar.
In May, Gaborone will stage the World Athletics Relay Championships before the Commonwealth Games take centre stage from July 23 to August 2.
September will host a double global showdown, the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
With such a loaded season on the horizon, the Thika meeting becomes a pivotal platform for athletes to fine-tune their craft, test their legs and lay down early markers.
“AK Central Region will host the 2nd AK/Betika Track and Field Meet on January 15–17, 2026, at the Thika Stadium,” AK confirmed in a statement.
“The event ushering in the New Year will serve as the second meet of the 2026 track and field season,” the statement added.
The event comes hot on the heels of the cancellation of the opening leg of the circuit, initially scheduled for Mumias on November 7–8.
To compensate, the Thika meet will stage a full programme of all events that were to be contested in Mumias.
“Following the cancellation of the first meet earlier scheduled for Mumias, the Thika meet will now host a full programme, inclusive of all events that were not held in Mumias,” AK clarified.
A total of 14 disciplines will light up the Thika meet.
Track events on the menu include: 100m, 110m/100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m and race walk for both men and women.
Field events will feature hammer throw, javelin, discus, shot put, long jump, high jump and triple jump, alongside the decathlon and heptathlon events.
Up for grabs is a cash purse of Sh20,000 for winners, while second and third finishers will pocket Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 respectively.
At the last edition of the Thika showdown held early in February this year, three-time African Championships race walk king Samuel Gathimba strutted to the 10,000m walk title, clocking 41:44.7. Heristone Wanyonyi (42:40.6) and Stephen Ndagiri (42:55.2) wrapped up the podium.
In the women’s steeplechase, Celestial Biwott dominated the barriers in 10:16.3 ahead of Dorothy Kimutai (11:00.4) and Ann Ndungu (11:02.2).
The men's 100m saw experienced sprinter Boniface Mweresa scorch the track in 10.1 as youngsters Dennis Mwai and Isaac Omurwa flashed across in 10.2 to secure second and third.
All eyes next year in Thika will be on the Utawala Sprints Club brigade, expected to spark fireworks across both men’s and women’s sprint events.
AK also reminded athletes to complete registration formalities on time.
“All athletes will be required to collect their running/bib numbers on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the event venue from 9 am to 6 pm,” the federation emphasised.
“Please note that registration and issuance of running/bib numbers will not be conducted on the event days.”
“We wish all participants the very best as they prepare and compete at the second meet in Thika.”
