World Under-20 Trials will be invite-only, AK announces

Alex Moonka of Riooga Secondary poses with his medals after winning the 100m and 200m  at the national secondary school games in Kisumu/ANGWENYI GICHANA

Trials for the 2026 World U20 Championships will be invite-only, Athletics Kenya Youth Committee secretary Joseph Ilovi has said.

Ilovi announced that the trials, initially scheduled for June 26 and 27, have been moved to May 21-23 at Nyayo National Stadium. Athletes will pick bib numbers and undergo vetting on May 21, with competition set for May 22 and 23.

Those selected will represent Kenya at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA, from August 4 to 9. Ilovi said the changes were made to allow enough time for administrative processes and team preparations.

According to Ilovi, Athletics Kenya is finalising the list of invited athletes and the selection criteria. “This time, there will be no regional trials to pick athletes for national trials. We shall use the national secondary and junior schools’ results to select probables. We shall also use weekend meetings and cross-country championships to invite those who are not in school,” said Ilovi.

He added that all invited athletes must have a valid Kenyan passport and an original birth certificate. “During the trials, we shall pick a provisional team, and the names will be sent to World Athletics for age verification. We shall also embark on the same exercise here so that we have a clean team for the U20,” Ilovi said.

He warned that only genuine U20 athletes would make the team. “World Athletics is very serious about issues of age cheating,” he added.

Meanwhile, junior athletes will for the first time compete at the Absa Kip Keino Classic on April 24 at Nyayo National Stadium. Meet director Barnaba Korir said the juniors will contest six events: 800m, 3,000m and 3,000m steeplechase for both men and women.

Organisers have invited 60 athletes, including some with international experience and others with emerging talent. “This is part of our roadmap for the World Under-20 Championships. We want to expose these athletes to a big stage early as we continue to nurture and develop talent,” said Korir.

Korir said some athletes were selected from training camps, while others impressed at the recently concluded national secondary schools Term One Games in Kisumu.

World U20 cross-country bronze medallist Andrew Alamisi and Andrew Kiptoo headline the men’s 3,000m field. Africa U18 steeplechase champion Emmanuel Lemiso is also in the line-up after winning both the 3,000m and 3,000m steeplechase titles in Kisumu.

In the women’s 3,000m, Vanenza Chebet leads the entries after winning the 6km cross-country and 3,000m races in Kisumu. The Kongit High School student is eyeing a place in Team Kenya for Eugene. “I’m targeting to be part of Team Kenya for the World Junior Championships in August,” said the Form Three student.