National youth coach Robert Ngisirei believes the country has what it takes to field a formidable team during the World Schools Cross Country Championships in May in Nairobi.
Ngisirei said preparations for the event are in top gear to ensure the event, under the tutelage International Schools Federation (ISF), is a success. The event will run from May 10-15 at the Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi.
The race will be competed in three categories thus —Under -18, Under-15 and under-12 and participants will mainly be drawn from primary and secondary schools.
“The race is coming at the right time when national secondary, primary and junior secondary schools track and field events will have been held. This means we shall get the right athletes for the world event,” said Ngisirei.
Apart from selecting athletes from schools, Ngisirei said they will also conduct national cross-country meetings in the run-up to the event.
“We shall stage cross country from the grassroots to the national. We will start at the sub-county, counties, and region before culminating in the national trials,” added Ngisirei.
He said the top ten finishers from each category will be selected to fly the Kenyan flag on home soil.
“As much as we have been given a limitless number of entries as hosts, we must come up with a good team because we can't accommodate everyone. We are also in the process of identifying training grounds," he added.
He said most schools will be hosting the county school championships next weekend.
“Apart from the national trials, there will be another selection criteria, especially for those who competed at the third edition of Sirikwa Cross Country championships, Discovery Kenya and national cross country."
