Why 2024 Kenya National Cross-Country Championships was postponed
16th January 2024
Kenya shone at the last Africa Cross Country Championships, winning both the women’s and men’s titles.
- According to Athletics Kenya, two events have been delayed.
- This is after the confirmation of the Africa Cross Country Championships which returns this year for the first time since 2018.
- AK has also been forced to make some changes to the fourth track and field weekend meet.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has announced some major changes to the
2024 calendar due to unavoidable reasons.
According to a press release issued by the federation, two events
have been delayed after the confirmation of the Africa Cross Country
Championships which returns this year for the first time since 2018.
These events include the 2024 Kenya National Cross Country
Championships and the fourth track and field weekend meet.
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“AK will hold the national cross-country championships to
select a team to the World Cross Country Championships - Serbia 2024. The
national event that was to be held on 24th February 2024 will now be held on 9th
March 2024,” read part of the statement from AK.
The competition was moved forward to make it possible
for Kenyan runners to grace the Africa Cross Country Championships which
will take place on Sunday, February 25 in Tunis, Tunisia.
Kenya shone at the last Africa Cross Country Championships
which was held six years ago in Algeria, winning both the women’s and men’s
titles.
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Celliphine Chespol and Alfred Barkach were crowned champions in the women’s and men’s senior categories respectively.
The reigning 10km world record holder Rhonex Kipruto also
ran away with the African under 20 men’s title with Hellen Ekalale settling for
a third-place finish in the women’s category.
The 2020 edition which was supposed to be held in Lome, Togo
was delayed to 2021 due to the pandemic and later canceled.
In addition, AK revealed that Kenya’s squad to the eagerly
awaited African Championships will be picked at the Sirikwa Classic World Cross
Country Tour.
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The event is expected to take place at the Lobo Village in
Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on Saturday, February 3.
Finally, AK has also been forced to make some changes to the
fourth track and field weekend meet.
“The 4th AK Track and Field Weekend Meet that was to be held on 22nd – 23rd March 2024 in Kisii will now be held on 5th - 6th April, 2024 at the same venue,” the statement concluded.
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