Nairobi — World half marathon record holder Samuel Kamau Wanjiru has been called up to Kenya's 10,000 metres team for this month's World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Wanjiru failed to make the top three at the national trials in Nairobi last weekend but Athletics Kenya have agreed to include the Japan-based runner in the team on the strength of his track record in distance running.

At the trials held at the Nyayo National Stadium, Wanjiru was also still recovering from a bout of malaria.

"Having looked at the two reasons, we saw the need to include him in the team so that he can boost the competition level and help Kenya in its quest in Japan," said AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat.

Wanjiru was the race maker who engaged the entire field in a tactical race by taking the lead at will before stalling the pace until the last four laps when he appeared unable to respond to the challenge from the rest at the trials.

He hung on until the end to finish fourth.

"We are allowed a maximum of four athletes in every race but only three will compete," Kiplagat explained.

"So we have room for him and it will be decided later by the team management on who will run in the championship. At the moment no one has been dropped so far and all the four will go to Japan."

The road to redemption for Kenya athletics begins today when the training camp for the World Athletic Championship opens at Kasarani. Athletics Kenya selected 37 athletes who will do duty for Kenya in the championship scheduled for August 25 to September 2.

At the last championship in Helsinki two years ago, Kenya recorded one of their worst performances in recent times with only one gold from Benjamin Limo in the 5,000m to show for their dismal efforts.

Aware of the pressure on the country to perform, Athletic Kenya secretary David Okeyo repeated yesterday that all the selected runners must report to camp without fail for a final three weeks of intensive training.

"The camp will open tomorrow (Wednesday) and ran until the team departs for Osaka on August 20. The selected athletes must report from 2 pm," Okeyo said. The only reigning champion in the team, Limo, was included on a wild card by AK to bring Kenya's representation in the 5,000m to four athletes.

Limo, failed to participate at the national trials on Saturday but was included "by virtue of being the defending champion" Okeyo said.

Limo, currently ranked 15th in the world this year, has had a quiet season thus far. In his last competitive race, the Roma Golden Gala on July 13, he finished a nondescript ninth in a time of 13:16.66 and will certainly be no where near a favourite in Osaka.

The rest of the Kenya 5,000m entries are Isaac Songok, Joseph Ebuya and Eliud Kipchoge. The Helsinki 2005 medallists in the team include Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase silver), Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase bronze) and Catherine Ndereba (marathon silver).