Athletics Kenya (AK) are hoping to send a formidable team to the World U-20 Championships set for August 27-31 in Lima, Peru, as they seek to surpass their last medal haul.
In the 2022 edition held in Cali, Colombia, Kenya bagged 10 medals (three gold, three silver and four bronze) to secure fourth place overall. Ethiopia, who had 12 medals, Jamaica (16)and the USA (15) led the medal tally.
"The federation is determined to field a formidable team that will surpass the 10 medals won in the last championships," read an AK statement.
Kenya’s gold medalists included Reynold Cheruiyot (1,500m), Betty Chelangat (3,000m), and Faith Cherotich (3,000m steeplechase).
Brenda Chebet (1,500m), Damaris Mutunga (400m) and Felix Korir (3,000m) secured silver with Daniel Kimaiyo (1,500m), Edwin Kisalsak (3,000m), Purity Chepkirui (1,500m) and Nancy Cherop (3,000m) winning bronze.
AK will hold the national trials for the World U20 Championships next week at Nyayo Stadium.
Eligible athletes for the June 26-28 event must be under the age of 20 and must provide original birth certificates, passports, national IDs (if applicable), student IDs, school release letters and parental consent.
AK expressed confidence in hosting successful national trials next week.
"We are confident of hosting competitive and successful national trials," AK asserted.
AK hopes that the youth training camps they had established earlier in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports will be key for a strong field of athletes.
"Through the Sports Arts and Development Fund (SASDF), we’ve set up camps where young athletes are identified, trained, and developed," the statement continued.
Since its inception in 2016, this initiative has produced top-tier athletes like World 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet, World Mile record holder Emmanuel Wanyonyi and World U20 1,500m champion Reynold Cheruiyot.
“The project has been in operation since 2016 and has seen the emergence of young athletes who have gone on to win medals on the international stage,” the statement read.
