Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman Jackson Tuwei has reiterated Kenya’s desire to retain the World Under-20 title as Kenya hosts the global event on August 17-22 in its capital Nairobi
Kenya topped the medal table during the previous edition of the World Junior event held in Tampere, Finland in 2018 with 11 medals, six gold, four silver and a bronze.
With just over two months until the start of the global event at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the Athletics Kenya boss said the preparations for the event won’t halt team Kenya’s rigorous selection process for athletes to take part in the event.
The federation has opted to give every athlete an opportunity to try their luck in the national team through regional pre-trials that will aid in building up the national trials set for July 2-3.
AK has already undertaken pre-trials in Southern, Central Rift and South Rift regions with the remaining regions set to pick their teams this weekend.
While some high profile countries such as New Zealand have already pulled out of the global event, Tuwei revealed that a host of countries have already confirmed participation in the week-long event which will be held in the African continent for the first time.
The Federation is currently doing its best to ensure that the participants of the U20 games held in Kenya are in good shape and have prepared well enough ahead of the task as they will be expected to fly the Lenyan Flag high