Nairobi — Three times world cross country short course champion Edith Masai is aiming for a rare double at next month's World Championships in Osaka.

Masai has been named in the marathon squad for Osaka and is also shortlisted for the track trials for the Osaka competition which will be held from August 25 to September 2.

Athletics Kenya also announced the selection criteria for track events with the first two across the line winning the ticket to Osaka and the third slot to be decided through the wild card system.

The national trials for Osaka will be done on July 28 by invitation only.

Masai, 40, has also qualified to compete in the track trials in the 5,000m and 10,000m and will guide the Kenyan women marathon team to Osaka together with four time Boston marathon champion Catherine Ndereba, 2005 Boston winner Rita Jepto Sitienei, Helen Kimutai Kimaiyo and Rose Cheruiyot while Beatrice Omwanza has been put on stand-by. Japan-based Tokyo International Marathon champion Daniel Njenga heads Kenya's charge in the men's category.

Others in the team are Vienna City Marathon champion Luke Kibet, James Mwangi Macharia, Laban Kipkemboi and William Kiplagat while Salim Kipsang and Isaac Macharia are on the reserves list.

AK Chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said the team named was the best available and was sure they will be able to reclaim the overall title in the global event which is considered second in ranking in the discipline competitions after the Olympics. Despite Kenya's dominance in the marathon races from Europe to America, local runners have failed to win the team gold medal in former events.

"Before naming this team we talked to all the big names, but they declined noting that they are interested in competing in the Olympics in Beijing, China. However, the athletes we have here are equally good having run at least 2:06 and are capable of attaining the same greatness their colleagues have got in the past," said Kiplagat.

Kiplagat said that only athletes who been ranked in the A category by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will be considered for the trials while those in Category B will only be called upon should there be space. Events like men 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase will have no heats but will see athletes battle it out in straight final.

In women only commonwealth Games 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei and Viola Kibiwott (1,500) have qualified under category A in their respective specialities. However, there will be 12 athletes in the 5,000m, six in 3,000m steeplechase and while Kenya's top ten women will have to battle it out in the 10,000m.

AK secretary general David Okeyo said that athletes who are yet to hit the qualifying mark still have the chance to do so by running in the IAAf Grand prix or in the All Africa games. At the same time AK has cautioned agents that no athlete will be allowed to run in the other races apart from Rome and London grand prix races on July 13 and 15.

"Athletes should have two week time to rest before the trials and I believe it will be enough time for them to recover. Those five going to Algeria like Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi are running in middle distance races," said Okeyo.