Kenya is set to compete at the 5th edition of the World Masters Athletics Championships after the trials that started today, 28th June 2018, at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
The Masters Athletics is designed for retired athletes which saw men and women competing in a single race but with different age categories. The categories have a 5 year range difference on each category with a starting age of 35 years for both genders.
The Masters Athletics has been in existence from 1975 but has not been so lucky until 2016 which saw the country ranked position 18 out of 180 competing countries in the World and number one in Africa. The Kenyan team has been requested to hold the African Masters Championship.
Rose Tata addressing the athletes after the first day of the trials at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani. Photo: Karambu Matheta
Rose Tata Muya, Masters Athletics Kenya Interim Secretary General and National record holder 400m hurdles, said that they are impressed with the turn out today which was over 200. Unlike other years which saw a very low turnout of 5 or 6.
The team is also going to be trained Ant-Doping. They have a motto saying, Win Clean and Stay Clean. “No one should take any kind of remedials since it has been a big challenge in the Athletics,” says Rose Muya.
The trials were set to be held at the Lorna Kiplagat Stadium on 21st and 22nd July in Iten, Rift Valley which is the cradle of Kenyan athletics but due to some technicalities, it was rescheduled to 28th and 29th of June.
John Njahi, the Captain Perth Australia 2016, won the 200m and 1500m 45 category age. “Our focus is now is Spain. The competition is stiff but we are looking at a better team than the one that represented Australia”, said Njahi.
The officials will give the final proceeding team on 11th of July which is the close date. The team will represent Kenya at the coastal city of Malaga, Spain from the 4th to 16th of September.
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