AK cross-country series begins at Machakos Peoples’ Park

The 2023/24 Athletics Kenya (AK) season begins this weekend with the first cross-country meet set for Machakos County at the famous Machakos Peoples’ Park.

This will be followed by the second meeting on 21 October in Kapsokwony (AK Western Region).

The series will culminate in a national championship with athletes who excel likely to be invited for the trials for the team to next year's World Athletics Cross-Country Championship slated for Belgrade, Serbia in March.

“We encourage all athletes to plan to participate in these events as preparations for the season commence,” a statement by the federation read.

AK are in the process of drawing up a calendar of events for next year, which is expected to include the trials for major international assignments. The federation will look to hold trials for several competitions including the African Games, World Cross Country Championships and Olympic Games in Paris.

“In the meantime, the AK technical committee, comprising representatives from all the AK regions and affiliates, is in the process of developing a calendar of events for the season. The full calendar of events will be released in due course,” the statement added.

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The cross-country season is expected to culminate with the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade where Kenya will be out to defend the title they won at this year’s edition in Bathurst, Australia.

Belgrade has staged several major track and field events over the years, including the 1962 European Championships, the 2013 European Cross-Country Championships, the 2017 European Indoor Championships and the 2017 Balkan Championships. Most recently, the city was the host of the 2022 World Indoor Championships.

The 2024 World Cross Country Championships will be held in the Park of Friendship, next to the Danube River in the heart of Belgrade, which was also the site of the 2013 European Championships.