Belgrade 2022: D-Day for team Kenya as the World Athletics Indoor Championships gets underway

Kenya's prowess in the middle distance races will be put to test when athletes representing the country at this year's World Athletics Indoor Championships take to the track on different races on the opening day 

Ten athletes made the Kenyan team with six set to be in action on the first day, four in the morning sessions. 

Ednah Jebitok was set to gets the Kenyans underway in the 1500m heats set for 12.20 pm. The Olympian who was set to double in 1500m and 3000m has, however, not been included in the 1500m list. 

Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay headlines the 22-strong women's 1500m entry list. In February last year she broke Genzebe Dibaba's world indoor record with her sensational 3:53.09 run in Lievin and, 13 months on, the form book suggests that the clear world leader will succeed her compatriot as world indoor champion.

Thirty minutes later, it will be the turn of Collins Kipruto and Noah Kibet to take to the track in the hope of making the final list of six in the men's 800m.

Kibet is in heat one where, going by the season best times, he is second behind United States' Bryce Hoppel. Kipruto is in heat four where he is the favourite, on paper, to advance. 

The final event of the morning session will see Daniel Simiu and Jacob Krop take to the stage for the men's 3000m heats, as they two, look to cause upsets and make the final.

Going by the 35 entrants' personal best times, Krop is the best placed of the two Kenyans with his 7.31.90 a season and personal best placing him fifth behind an Ethiopian trio and Spain's Adel Mechaal. Simiu is seventh.

The 2019 world 5000m finalist was third in both Karlsruhe and Torun Indoor meetings, clocking 7:31.90 at the latter.

Simiu, on his part won the 10K Valencia Ibercaja in January in 26:58 and clocked a 3000m PB of 7:37.86 in Metz.

The depth of the talent involved, in the men's 3000m is such that only the tactical ones will survive. Of the 35 athletes entered, 11 of them have gone sub-7:40 this year. 

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi heads to the race as a favourite. The season began with the youngster running a solo race to clock 7:26.20 for the fifth-fastest indoor 3000m in history, missing Daniel Komen’s 24-year-old mark of 7:24.90 by seconds.

Ethiopia have a chance to go for a sweep as, in -form Selemon Barega and Lamecha Girma are also in the race.

World and Olympic steeplechase silver medalist, Girma won in Lievin and Torun to beat Barega on both occasions but the Olympic 10,000m champion turned the tables in Madrid, pipping his rival on the line.

In addition to the Kenyans Mechaal is also looking to spoil the party for the favourites. The Olympic 1500m fifth-place finisher has raced on the track, cross country and road already in 2022 and best of the lot was his European indoor 3000m record of 7:30.82 to win on Staten Island on 6 February.