Athletics Kenya Reveal New Selection Plan After Cancelling World Indoor Trials

Athletics Kenya (AK) has officially announced the cancellation of the World Athletics Indoor Trials.

Originally slated to take place on January 30-31, 2026, in Nairobi, the event was intended to serve as the primary battleground for athletes vying for a spot on the national team.

In a formal notice released on Monday, January 26, the federation cited "unavoidable circumstances" for the abrupt cancellation.

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While the specific nature of these circumstances was not detailed, the decision leaves Kenya’s elite runners with a change in strategy as they look toward the World Athletics Indoor Championships, scheduled for March 20–22, 2026, in Poland.

“Athletics Kenya wishes to inform all athletes, officials and stakeholders that the World Athletics Indoor Trials that were scheduled to take place on January 30-31, 2026, in Nairobi have been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances,” Athletics Kenya said in a statement.

With the physical trials off the table, Athletics Kenya is pivoting to a data-driven selection model. The federation confirmed that the national team will now be chosen through a time-based and merit-based selection process.

This means that instead of a first-past-the-post race in Nairobi, athletes' performances in various international and sanctioned meets will be scrutinised.

The final roster will only be confirmed after the World Athletics qualification period officially closes on March 8, 2026. This gives athletes an additional five weeks to hunt for fast times on the global circuit, particularly in the competitive indoor meets across Europe and North America.

The federation highlighted specific disciplines where they intend to field a team. The selection will focus on a mix of sprints and Kenya’s traditional stronghold of middle-distance running:

Sprints & Hurdles: 60m Men and 60m Hurdles Women.

Middle Distance: 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m (all for both Men and Women).

Athletics Kenya has advised all athletes to "continue training and preparing for upcoming competitions listed on the Athletics Kenya calendar."

The federation’s technical team will be monitoring performances closely during this window to ensure that the strongest possible squad is sent to Poland to challenge the world’s best.