Kasarani update: AK confirms dropping Saruni from 800m team

world championship training - kasarani

The writing has been on the wall. And finally the jury has delivered its verdict on 800m men’s squad to the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships in London from Friday.

Beneficiaries walked out smiling while casualties quickly left the residential training camp at Kasarani. And the heated debate across the globe will continue on whether it was right to sacrifice US-based Michael Saruni to accommodate two-time Olympic and world 800m champion David Rudisha and Ferguson Rotich, the 2016 IAAF Diamond League Trophy winner.

Athletics Kenya’s (AK) decision to drop Saruni simply added to the controversies surrounding Kenya’s athletics trials since time immemorial. He finished third in the selections and, armed with AK rule that top three across the line earned automatic team spots, Saruni thought his work was cut out.

We reported earlier that he had been dropped, something that AK denied but they eventually confirmed it yesterday at Kasarani.

Jack Tuwei, the AK President, ironically said Saruni is not in good shape. “Saruni is not in very good shape as per the technical team’s assessment.”

Other casualties include 4x400m women’s relay team of Maureen Jelagat, Veronica Mutua, Jacinta Shikanda and Alphas Kishoyian, who were to join forces with Raymond Kibet, Collins Omae and Boniface Mweresa.

Tuwei also confirmed that Nicholas Bett, the 400m hurdles champion, is nursing an injury. Haron Koech, Bett’s elder brother and Africa bronze medalist, has also been dropped from the team.

“Koech is ranked 35th in the world. The system rejected him but we have appealed since top 40 hurdlers are expected in London.

“Athletics Kenya is still following through IAAF Communications department,” he said. Elijah Kimitei, the long jumper, has also been axed after the system rejected his entry. [Dennis Okeyo and Jonathan Komen]