TEDDY MULEI/Athletics Kenya (AK) have outlined the pathway to the Paris Olympics with the top two athletes at the national trials in mid-next month securing automatic qualification.
A statement from AK said a panel of selectors will then pick the third athlete.
Apart from crossing the finishing line, all top three athletes must meet the conditions laid out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics to secure slots in the team.
First, the athletes must meet qualifying standards, through attaining the automatic qualification mark in their respective events or the World Athletics ranking.
“Athlete must have attained the qualifying standard as per IOC and World Athletics entry standards and world ranking quota,” the statement read in part.
Further, the athlete must meet all the anti-doping requirements specific to category-A countries.
Category ‘A’ countries are nations deemed to have the highest doping risk with Kenya listed alongside six others.
They are Belarus, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, Russia and Ukraine.
Athletes who have met the first two requirements will be expected to participate in the national trials for a spot in the Kenyan team.
However, athletes finishing in the top two at the trials without meeting the world ranking quota will be put on standby until the qualifying window closes on June 30.
“In the event that an athlete is among the first two across the finish-line and has not qualified by entry standard, the athlete will be put on standby until the closure of the qualifying window on June 30, 2024 for him/her to be considered,” the statement read.