Korir sounds alarm over World Championships qualification

With just 170 days to the World Championships in Tokyo, Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Committee chairman Barnaba Korir has warned that Kenya risks sending a depleted squad if the government does not fast-track the installation of a tartan track at Nyayo Stadium.

Athletes have been forced to train and compete on murram tracks during AK weekend meets, as Nyayo’s surface remains worn out and unfit for high-level competition.

Korir stressed that the lack of a World Athletics-approved track is a major setback in the nation’s preparations.

“The problem we are facing currently is the lack of a standardised track recognised by World Athletics,” Korir said.

He noted that athletes would be forced to go to other countries in search of entry marks for Tokyo.

“If we don’t have the new track soon, the athletes will have no choice but to seek other alternative venues either in the neighboring countries or Europe to go and compete and qualify,” he said.

However, he noted that not all athletes can afford to travel abroad or secure invitations to top-tier meets, which could drastically reduce Kenya’s representation in Tokyo.

“That also brings an issue for the performance as they prepare for the relays and World Championships, because not all athletes get the chance to go out and compete in other countries like the Diamond League or other World Athletics-sanctioned events. Korir cautioned that without a proper track at Nyayo Stadium, the national trials in July will feature only those who have met the qualifications.

“It will be a problem for them to qualify because at the moment we don’t have a standardised track for more athletes to qualify. It, therefore means the few who will have qualified will be the only ones invited for the trials,” Korir said.

“This also means locking out the majority of athletes who would otherwise have qualified and made the team for the World Championships.”

The country faced a similar crisis ahead of the Paris Olympics when Nyayo Stadium was closed for renovations.

The federation had to step in to have the venue temporarily reopened for trials while the 10,000m trials were relocated to the Prefontaine Classic in the USA.

The challenge persists as Kenya eyes qualification for the World Relays in May and prepares to host the Kip Keino Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour event—both of which require a world-class track.

With the two major events beckoning, Korir said the federation is working closely with the Ministry of Sports to have the Nyayo tartan up and running.

“We are trying to work closely with the ministry to ensure they lay down the new tartan track at Nyayo so that our athletes can compete,” he said.

He emphasised that having a fully functional stadium would significantly boost Kenya’s qualification numbers.