Chris Musumba
1 July 2008
Nairobi — Only the first two runners across the line during the national trials this weekend will get automatic qualification to the Beijing Olympic Games.
The third slot will be filled through the coaches' wild card choice, Athletics Kenya said Monday.
National trials for the Beijing Olympic Games will be held this weekend at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
Isaiah Kiplagat, the AK chairman, said no one athlete would considered outside this criteria and warned that the third athlete to finish during the trials would most likely earn the remaining slot.
However, Kiplagat noted that in some special cases, the third athlete would be dropped depending on his or her consistency during the season.
The national trials for any major international competition has always been explosive and many elite runners dread it. Fair play and transparency have also been issues as some athletes have been left out for ambiguous reasons. Kiplagat said it would be an open exercise for all athletes.
Pressure
Athletics has for long been the single source of Kenya's medals in the Olympic games and the officials said they needed to select a quality team that would be able to soak up pressure and beat the opposition at the global stage.
"The trials are a must for all to compete and, unlike the national championships, only athletes who have got the required standards will be invited. The list will be prepared early and anyone who has run within the required time and might be omitted should contact the secretariat immediately," he said.
About 10 athletes, led by world 10,000m bronze medallist Martin Irungu, Josphat Ndambiri, Gideon Ngatuny, John Kariuki, Japhat Boit, Phillis Ongori, Sally Kipyego, Pauline Wanguru, Filomena Cheyech, Everlyne Wambui, have arrived in the country from their base in Japan for the championships.
The 10 were exempted from the month-long training camp in Eldoret because of contractual obligations with their Japanese employers.
However, AK might be forced to carry along two athletes who are yet to hit the Olympic qualification mark in 400m to bolster their 4x400m relay team.
Medallists
Only Elizabeth Muthuka has run within the 51.55 Olympic qualification time when she clocked 51:53 in the one lap event during the national championship. Alongside Muthuka, Kiplagat said they had both Africa two lap champion Pamela Jelimo and world 800m gold medallist Janeth Jepkosgei.
They need a fourth athlete while a fifth one would be on the reserve bench. Kiplagat hinted on Kenya Prisons heptathlon star, Florence Wasike, and Kenya Police's Joyce Zakary as most probable to be considered.
Kenya, which is ranked 11th in the world in the relay event, is within the requirement by International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be considered for a slot in Beijing.
Completion
According to IOC, only the best 16 countries are eligible to compete in the event. Kiplagat said they would petition International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) to give the slot to Kenya.
"We have some of the fastest women in the one-lap event. They will be the very ones whom we will be looking forward to use in this category," he said.
The USA has completed its selection process Monday.
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