World and Olympic 800m Champion David Rudisha leads elite runners for Athletics Kenya (AK) seminar planned for November 12-15 in Eldoret

The landmark seminar for the athletes and coaches has attracted participants from all corners of the country. Around 300 athletes and 20 coaches have been invited for the event to be staged annually.

Some of the top athletes expected for the event include Olympic and world marathon record holder, Patrick Makau, world 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, world and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi, former Olympic 800m champion Pamela Jelimo and World Indoor 3,000m champion Helen Obiri among others.

In their effort to equip their 16 affiliates, AK have also invited one official from each branch to team up with the athletes and coaches for the four-day seminar.

According to AK President Isaiah Kiplagat, the federation targets athletes who compete both locally and internationally alongside the upcoming generation of junior athletes from various institutions and affiliates.

Kiplagat urged all invited athletes to take advantage of the seminar which is geared towards improving their lifestyle and athletics career. He said the life-span of athletes in top flight competition is between 5 and 10 years before one hangs his or her spikes.

"This therefore calls for an earlier and proper preparation for athletes to reap maximum benefit before they retire," said the AK President. Kiplagat said resource persons would be drawn from Ministry of Education, churches, Law Society of Kenya, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport and IAAF among other institutions.

Subjects to be discussed include Investment and finance, media relations, nutrition, Intellectual properties and sport, medical and anti-doping procedures and retirement.