Sprinters for Abuja, camp postponed

By Gilbert Wandera

Kenya has entered a relay team for the Abuja Grand Prix on July 18.

The country will also be represented in short-race and javeline with more athletes expected to hit qualifying times for the World Athletics Championships in Berlin next month.

The 4X100m relay team has Thomas Musembi, Mark Mutai, Anderson Mureta, Julius Kirwa, John Kituu and Jonathan Kibet.

Also entered are, Kipkemoi Soi (100m), Joyce Zakari (400m) and Julius Yego (Javeline). Stephen Mwaniki and Andrew Chepkwony have been appointed coaches.

Athletics Kenya (AK) Secretary General David Okeyo said the team starts residential training on Monday. They depart on July 16 and are expected back home a day after the one day championships.

Elsewhere, Okeyo has also announced that the pre-training camp for the World Athletics Championships team that was scheduled to begin this weekend in Eldoret has been postponed due to logistical problems.

Okeyo has asked all athletes especially the probables to be selected for the Berlin Championships that they must seek permission from AK before taking part in the on-going IAAF Golden Leagues and Grand Prix.

"They must seek our permission before they are cleared to travel for any competition," Okeyo said but declined to state what action AK will take if an athlete does not adhere to this requirement. AK is probably jittery about athletes maintaining their shape before the World Championships.