Athletics camps to host World U20 championships mini-trials
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 19.04.24. | 19:00
The global championship is slated for August 27-31 in Lima, Peru
Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir has insisted on the need for camps to host mini-trials before the national trials to pick the best athletes in the camps.
The move also aims at containing the numbers and giving coaches ample time to sharpen their proteges’ skills ahead of the 2024 World Athletics U20 championships.
The championship is slated for August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.
Speaking after officially opening Kapsisiywa, Kapkoimur, and Chepsaita camps, Korir said was glad that the camps had started bearing fruits. Kapsisiywa and Kapkoimur camps were opened in Nandi while Chepsaita opened its doors in Uasin Gishu.
“We will have mini-trials ahead of national trials. This will ensure we get the best team. We will communicate the dates for the trials in due course. We have realized the importance of these camps that we started,” Korir said.
Korir pointed out that their primary objective of starting the camps was to shield athletes from the dual threats of society.
Little did they anticipate that they would serve as breeding grounds for some of the nation’s best talents. Most of them performed well in the recently concluded Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One games which concluded in Machakos.
"We secluded athletes to ensure they are within the confines of schools and that the teachers can protect them. Our idea is to monetize such talents while still focused on education,” he offered.
Among athletes who excelled at the school games from the camps include Ivine Jepleting, Koang Don, and Hillary Kibet.
Jepleting, a Grade 6 pupil at Singilet Primary School, won silver in the 1,500m during primary school games in Nyeri when she timed 4:43.06 behind Magdalene Emaliona from Kipsaina (4:41.09). Ruth Chelangat of Simetwet (4:52.0) was ranked third.
16-year-old South Sudanese refugee Don, a Grade 7 pupil at AIC Moi's Bridge Junior School won the 800m
Kibet, a Grade 8 pupil at Kombairen said he worked hard in Machakos to win silver as he plans to compete at the World Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
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