AK to hold Commonwealth trials before World Championship

Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jack Tuwei yesterday said that getting athletics team ready for commonwealth Games is the mandate of National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK).

Tuwei says the federation slotting trials for club Games earlier than those of World Athletics Championships follows guidance from NOCK. This year’s  Games will be staged from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The World Championships will be held from July 15-25 in Eugene, Oregon. He says the final team that will be named following the conclusion of the two day trials this Saturday will surely be determined by the quota allocated to the federation.

“We can only work with the numbers we have been allocated factoring in that there are other federations like swimming, badminton, boxing, cycling, judo, lawn bowls, squash among others that too will be sending team to Birmingham,” said Tuwei adding that NOCK are charged with organising the Commonwealth Games programme.

Tuwei further says given the club Games is a multi-sport events,  issues to do with accreditation can be rigorous thus need to start early preparations.

“I understand where NOCK is coming from, inorder to have sufficient time to do all the necessary logistics, all the details regarding participating athletes must be submitted early even for accreditation,” he told People Sport.

Ahead of trials that will be held at the Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani, only invited athletes will be allowed to compete.

“We can only have the athletes that have met the criteria to attend and therefore standing a chance to make the team, we want to eliminate cases of athletes coming to try their luck,” added Tuwei.