Nairobi — AS KENYA HEADS FOR THE 12th edition of the World Junior Championships that kick off on July 8 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, it is clearly the team to beat.

The team takes pride in being a time-tested unit that is at home with the rigours of international competition. Indeed, not even the unexpected stiff opposition from the United States, America, Russia, China, Bahrain and Ethiopia has it worried.

This confidence is not without basis. For decades now, Kenya has reigned supreme at the junior and youth cadre of global athletics competitions. The return to Bydgoszcz after nine years will rekindle memories of Saif Saieed Shaheen of Qatar (then competing for Kenya under the name Stephen Cherono) and the current 3,000m steeplechase record holder and world half marathon bronze medallist Alice Timbilil. The two, among others, first burst on the scene back in 1999 during the World Youth Championship.

A year later, head coach Kariuki Gikongo guided the Kenyan youngsters to the top of the World Junior Championship in Santiago, Chile, amassing 14 medals (seven gold, four silver and three bronze) ahead of Russia who had 11 (four gold, six silver and one bronze), South Africa, Germany and Jamaica.

The hunt for medals and exposure of the youngsters has been on ever since and Kenya affirmed its prowess two years ago when it conquered the world in Beijing to emerge ahead of bigwigs China, Russia and America respectively, having scooped 15 medals - six gold, seven silver and two bronze.

The class of 23 athletes selected have shown they have the ability and talent to leave their mark in the discipline.

Take Africa double 5,000m and 10,000m champion Mathew Kisorio, for example. Despite his poor tactical race at the Edinburgh World Cross Country Champion in March where he finished sixth, Kisorio has since shown tremendous form, mixing with seniors with ease as well as ruling his peers. Kisorio sprinted to the finish to set a new national junior record in 13:38.6 in the 5,000m in Kisumu before walking all over his opposition during the trials at Nyayo stadium a week later.

He will team up with Vincent Yator in the hunt to win the gold, which Kenya lost two years ago to Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele.

Josephat Bett of South Rift is Kenya's pointman in the 10,000m race. He has clocked a fast time at a high altitude course of 28:18.0 and together with Titus Mbishei of the Police (28:18.03), will be out to step into Joseph Ebuya's shoe and dominate the long distance. Ebuya won silver in the 10,000m race in Beijing in 2006 before being forced to double up with the 5,000m race where he scooped a bronze medal.

In the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya have maintained a clean record and will be gunning for their 12th consecutive victory.

The Kenyan girls can hold their own too, what with the many star athletes in their ranks. Mercy Cherono, the 3,000m World Youth champion, is in pole position to win a medal at the junior level after ruling the roost last year in Ostrava in the Czech Republic.

A KNEE INJURY IN DECEMBER dashed her hopes of returning to the World Cross Country Championship after she failed to cope with the humidity and heat in Mombasa last year to finish 23rd. She has however, shaken off the injury and is in great form if the pace she set at the trials is anything to go by.

Cherono crafted the downfall of World Junior 3,000m champion Veronicah Nyaruai Wanjiru, who will miss the opportunity to defend her title as she finished a distant fourth in a race won by Cherono in 9:00.2. Jackline Chebii (9:04.4) and Chebet Cheptais (9:04.9), the World Cross Country 6km silver medallist were the others ahead of her. Chebii will now have the challenge of wresting the crown from Cherono in Bydgoszcz.

The men are: Sylvester Kirwa (400m), Geoffrey Kibet, Felix Konchellah (800m), Fredrick Musyoki, James Magut (1,500m), Mathew Kisorio, Vincent Yator (5,000m), Josephat Bett, Titus Mbishei (10,000m), Patrick Tarer, Jonathan Muia (3,000m steeplechase), John Kituu and Julius Rotich (400m Hurdles).

The women are: Winny Chebet, Grace Kimanzi (800m), Sheila Chepkurui, Stacy Ndiwa (1,500m), Mercy Cherono, Jackline Chebii (3,000m), Nelly Chebet, Lucia Muia (5,000m), Kambua Muyanga, Elizabeth Mueni (3,000m SC).