Step up cross country national trials

Today, Athletics Kenya (AK) will pick the national team to the 43rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships to be held in Aarhus, Denmark, on March 30. The AK took the national trials to Eldoret, the Mecca of world athletics. The competition, which comes up this afternoon, will no doubt pull mammoth crowds to the North Rift region.

It will be reminiscent of the 2016 Rio Olympic national trials at the Kipchoge Stadium, where more than 20,000 fans flocked the quiet but athletics-mad town, forcing the police to turn away some spectators. This should serve as a lesson to county governments, who should not just wait for hosting rights, but support the sport by tapping, nurturing and developing grassroots talent. It is certain that local leaders will take vantage positions at Eldoret Sports Club today and join thousands of fans to cheer our stars, while they have done little to support the sport.