NAIROBI — Athletics Kenya will send 24 elite runners to compete at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, on July 5. The trials will decide who qualifies to represent Kenya in the women’s 5000m and men’s 10,000m events at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
The squad includes 12 men and 12 women, all cleared under World Athletics qualification standards. Nike is fully funding the trials.
Athletics Kenya executive member Barnaba Korir said holding the trials in the United States gives runners a better shot at strong performances.
“We tested this approach last year when we picked our 10,000m Olympic team,” Korir said. “Beatrice Chebet even set the world mark. It’s easier for Kenyan men to hit 27 minutes in the U.S. than in Nairobi.”
The July race will help determine six slots — three men and three women — for the global championship set for September 13–21 in Tokyo. The remaining team members will be selected at the national trials on August 2 in Nairobi.
“We are giving as many athletes as possible a chance to qualify and improve their times,” Korir added.
Kenya will defend three titles in Tokyo: the women’s 800m, 1500m, and 5000m.
Preparations for the local trials are underway, with efforts focused on completing a new tartan track at Nyayo National Stadium. Athletics Kenya is working with Sports Kenya to ensure the glue for the track surface arrives in time.
“We hope the track will be ready before the start of CHAN,” Korir said.
The Prefontaine Classic has long served as a platform for fast times and fierce competition, drawing top athletes from across the globe. For Kenyan runners, the Oregon race marks a crucial chance to secure their place on the world stage — under familiar pressure, but in faster conditions.
