Trials for Africa Senior Athletics Championships postponed as new venue is unveiled

Trials for Africa Senior Athletics Championships postponed as new venue is unveiled

Abigael Wafula 17:37 - 13.05.2024

Athletics Kenya has announced the postponement of the National Championships-cum Africa Senior Athletics Championships national trials and announced a new venue for the same.

The highly-awaited Athletics Kenya national Championships that were scheduled for May 16 to 18 (Thursday to Saturday) at the Nyayo National Stadium have now been pushed to May 21 and 22 (Tuesday and Wednesday).

The venue of the event has also been shifted from the Nyayo National Stadium to the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, meaning track athletes have no chance of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games since the venue is yet to be ratified by World Athletics.

The national event will also serve as the trials for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships scheduled for Douala, Cameroon on June 15 to 25.

Athletics Kenya expressed their regret toward having to postpone the event, citing unavoidable circumstances that led to the major shift.

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Meanwhile, the athletes who punch their tickets to the continental showpiece will have another chance to qualify for the Paris show before the deadline elapses.

According to the International Olympic Committee, the qualification and ranking period for all individual events, other than the 10,000m, marathon, combined events and race walks, will be between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

For the 10,000m, combined events, race walks and relays, the qualification and ranking period will be between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024, while for the marathon the period will be between November 1, 2022 and April 30, 2024 (deadline elapsed).

The likes of former Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego and multiple national champion Mark Otieno will be in contention for top honours as they look to punch their tickets to the city of love.