Kenya to host 2017 IAAF event: US and Argentine cities withdraw bids for World Youth Championships

Mercy Cherono has stood out as one of the most beautiful ladies in the athletics world.

Kenya was set to be handed the right to 2017 World Youth Championships last night. This followed the last-minute withdrawal of Greenboro (USA), who was the strongest competitor. Argentine city Buenos Aires had long withdrawn from the race. "We are, however, waiting to put our case to IAAF in the next one hour," said Athletics Kenya Vice President, David Okeyo from the French Principality of Monaco. Okeyo confirmed the withdrawal of Greenboro, which, he speculated, could have been because another US city, Eugene was also bidding for the 2019 World Championships, but which went to Doha, Qatar. (see another story on this page)

The strong bid team from Kenya, led by Sports Cabinet Secretary, Dr Hassan Wario, and included athlete, Mercy Cherono, were to make their presentation after Kampala did theirs for the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, in which they were competing against Manama, Bahrain. It was evident from the word go that, despite negative developments that blighted Kenyan athletics recently, that included doping scandal involving Chicago marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, and rebellion by AK branches against AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, Kenya was the favourite given the depth of athletics and the success of the 2007 World Cross Country Championships that was in Mombasa.