Paris Olympics tops the list of global meets for Kenyan athletes

Gold medalist Peres Jepchirchir, left, of Kenya, stands with silver medalist and compatriot Brigid Kosgei, centre, and bronze medalist Molly Seidel, right, of the United States, following the women's marathon at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[AP]

Kenyan athletes, as has been a tradition for over 60 years, will compete with their sights on rich prize money and prestigious titles.

The third edition of Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour and the fifth Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour are among global competitions that will electrify Eldoret and Nairobi respectively in February and April.

World Secondary Schools cross country championships add to the list of top events that will spice up an electrifying atmosphere in Kenya.

Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi will play host to the high schools' competition in May.

With a history of producing historic performances and topping charts, the world will be watching Kenya's moves including preparations of the country's teams ahead of the global championships.

Athletics Kenya Nairobi executive committee member and youth development director Barnaba Korir asked Kenyans to support the country's athletes as they prepare to carry the hopes of an expectant nation.

"To our beautiful fans - the Kenyans. I want to tell you that our athletes go through extreme difficulties to achieve the results we are seeing. Whenever they are competing, let us go out and cheer them on," Korir said in a New Year message to fans and athletes.

The country's preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics have already started with the ongoing track and field events.

Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum lunges to the finish line as he wins men's elite race at 2023 London Marathon in London. [Xinhua]

Last September, the World Athletics Council re-awarded the Championships after it was found that preparations at Medulin and Pula in Croatia, which previously won the bid to host the event on February 10 failed to advance in their readiness to stage the international competition.

The 2024 World Cross Country Championships will be held in the Park of Friendship, next to the Danube River in the heart of Belgrade, which was also the site of the 2013 European Championships.

Kenya is slowly building her team as it targets to defend its top spot of the World Cross Country charts. It topped the 2023 edition in Bathurst, Australia in February.

Cross country weekend meetings are underway, culminating in the national cross country championships scheduled for February 24.

The World Under-20 Championships will be another highlight, happening just after the Olympic Games.

Last November, Athletics Kenya announced the setting up of 40 youth training camps, among them 19 news centres where top Under-20 talents would be prepared for the Lima showdown.

The federation said the camps would be distributed across the country and would accord the youngsters an opportunity to train hard in preparation for the 2024 World championships.

Kenya's Emmanuel Korir (right) and Ferguson Rotich celebrate after winning 800m Olympic gold and silver medal respectively in men's 800m final. [AP]

Last year in Cali, Kenyan youth placed fourth on the medal table behind the USA which bagged seven gold medals, Jamaica (six), Ethiopia (6). Kenya had three gold medals.

Locally, cross country races including Kenya Police, Kenya Defence Forces and Kenya Prisons as well as Athletics Kenya regional championships are among events to watch this January, ahead of the national competition and the World Cross contest. There is also Discovery Kenya Cross Country.

On the global scene, the Diamond Leagues which will kick off in Xiamen, China in April and close at the finals in Brussels on September 13 and 14 will offer another platform for big battles.