Despite his outstanding performance at the Iten cross country last weeken, former African cross country Champion Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli has withdrawn from this weekend's National Trials at Prisons Staff Training College ground.
Kimeli, who is the Commonwealth 5,000m silver medalist, explained that he is not ready for the competition having resumed training just a week ago.
“I feel like I have not trained enough for this race. My preparations do not suit the new cross-country dates and I have no choice but to pave way for others to deliver for the country," Kimeli said.
Kimeli led the host of elite athletes in the AK Cross Country weekend meeting and finished third in the men's senior race. Sevilla Half Marathon champion Sebastian Sawe won the race while Cardiff Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Koech was second.
Iten race previously scheduled for December 10 was brought forward to last weekend due to the visa timelines issued by the Australian Embassy ahead of the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.
The 2017 Africa U20 Championships 10,000m gold medalist had been invited for Saturday's Trials after a good show in the Iten race. Kimeli is among the over 100 athletes selected for the trials.
AK will use the trials as a yardstick to pick the team that will fly the country's flag in Bathurst, Australia on February 18.
Kimeli said his initial plan was to begin his training this month, then compete in the race and the trials in January. " I, however, changed my plans after the event was brought forward to December," he noted.
He said while he is very much interested in the trials, his fitness can't allow him to do much in terms of delivery.
