Athletics Kenya will use the Prefontaine Classic meet on Saturday 5th July to select team for the World Athletics Championship in 10,000m men and 5,000m women.
Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet will go head to head against 10 km World Record holder and Agnes Jebet Ngétich, in the 5000m trials .
After finishing second in Budapest in 2023 behind Faith Kipyegon in the 5,000m race, Chebet who has been in a scintillating form since Paris Olympics, will be keen to punch her ticket to Tokyo.
The 24-year-old will compete against a strong field that includes Jebet Ngetich, former 10,000m All African champion Caroline Nyaga, Margaret Akidor, African games silver medalist Janeth Chepngetich, Hellen Ekalale, Caroline Kariba, Sarah Wanjiru and Maurine Chebor.
In addition to trying to secure a ticket to Tokyo, Chebet will target to extend her lead in the Diamond League standings as she goes for a fourth win over the distance this season.
The top three finishers will book their slots for the World Championships alongside the defending champion Faith Kipyegon.
Chebet will also be going back to the familiar hunting ground where, a year ago, she set the new world record for the 10,000-meter race running 28:54.14,becoming first woman run sub 29 earning a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Kenyan women have excelled in the 5000m. At the World Championships over the years.
Vivian Cheruiyot won gold in 2009 and 2011, before passing the baton to Hellen Obiri, who replicated the result wining in 2017 and 2019 followed by Faith Kipyegon,who emerged the World Champion in 2023 in Budapest,Hungary.
Local based athletes left the country on tuesday night for USA ahead of the trials.
Twelve athletes will fight for a maximum ofthree slots at the global championships in the men’s 10,000m.
Silver medalist in 2022 Stanley Waithaka Mburu, will compete against experienced Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, former 5000m under-20 champion Benson Kiplangat, Richard Etir, Ishmael Rokitto, Mathew Kipruto, Mathew Kipsang, Robert Kiprop, Edwin Kurgat, Samwel Chebolei, and Gideon Rono.
Kenya last won a World Championship gold inthe men’s 10,000 metres in 2001,through Charles Kamathi who followed the footsteps of Paul Kipkoech and Moses Tanui who had won gold in the 1987 and 1991 editions.
Dismas Otuke
