ATHLETES SET FOR BUSY SEASON: AK keen to start early preparations for 2017 Worlds

Caroline Chepkoech leads Visiline Chepkesho (012), Nancy Nzisa (014) the 10km women race during the Athletics kenya Nairobi Country Cross Country Championship at Posta Grounds along Ngong Road on November 7, 2015. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Athletics Kenya has rolled out its 2016/2017 calendar, with Kenya’s title bid at the IAAF World Athletics Championships set for London on August 4 –13 on the card.

Nicholas Maswai, the Kenya Prisons senior assistant commissioner, has been appointed the national team manager in the quest to retain Kenya’s top spot, where they amassed 16 medals – seven gold, six silver and three bronze – at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, last year.

“I am grateful to have been appointed the team manager. I now call on athletes, their agents, AK affiliates and institutions and coaches to direct their energies on preparations for the World Championships. We need to start off early enough,” Maswai said.

AK named him to head the biennial showpiece during the executive meeting on Wednesday, where they prepared the calendar.

“I am sure we can do it if we prepare well. Athletes ought to utilise the cross country season to build their endurance ahead of the World Championships,” he said.

Nairobi branch kicks off the season with the first AK Cross Country series on November 5 before proceeding to Kangaru High School in Embu on November 12.

Elite and upcoming athletes will strive to consolidate points for a share of Sh1m AK Jackpot.

Nyahururu will host the third AK Cross Country meeting on November 19 then Eldoret’s Tuskys Wareng Cross Country bonanza that always attracts a high turn-out alongside the Discovery Kenya Cross Country meet – which is the oldest local cross country race in the country and comes up on February 22 at the Eldoret Sports Club.