Triathlon Commonwealth Games' trials to be repeated

For the third time in two months, the Kenya Triathlon Federation (KTF) will conduct the women's team trials to the Commonwealth Games. 

The move comes after National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Secretary General (SG) Francis Mutuku ordered a repeat trial citing inadequacies with the course used for a an event held at Kenyatta University. 

KTF first held their trials on the second weekend of March at Karen's Water Front where Joseph Okal and John Paul were picked in the men's category after finishing first and second respectively. However, Paul already had a wild card, being the top seed in Kenya. 

In the women's competitions Meghan Irungu won the women's race and alongside top seed Jossette Njeri bagged the tickets to Birmingham.

The latter, however, had finished fourth at Karen with her wildcard handing her the ticket at the expense of Aisha Nasser who had finished second. 

However, Njeri successfully lodged an appeal challenging the results of the Waterfront trials saying that the winner, Irungu, skipper a loop in cycling. 

A re-trial was then scheduled for Kenyatta University slightly over two weeks after the Karen event but Njeri skipped the second trial on medical grounds. 

Nasser went on to win the Kenyatta University event to bag the ticket to Birmingham alongside Njeri. 

"The swim course was held at a swimming pool at Kenyatta University rather than an open water course. The cycling course also had issues, especially on the laps that the competition took," Mutuku offered, speaking to Nation Sport.  

Mutuku, who held a meeting with KTF officials on Tuesday, said that every athlete should be given the opportunity to participate and that there should be sufficient notice for the trials.

“There should be a level playing field for everyone with the best qualifying for the Games. Let the athletes be subjected to the same standards that they will encounter in Birmingham,” said Mutuku.