Omanyala headlines stellar list of invited-only athletes for World Championship and Commonwealth Games

Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omurwa Omanyala and the trio of Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon, Emmanuel Korir, and Conseslus Kipruto headline a marquee list of athletes set to participate in the Athletics Kenya trials for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The invite only trials are set to take place on Friday 24 to Saturday 25 June at the Kasarani Stadium after initially being postponed from Saturday 21 May to hand all the athletes the opportunity to compete for the slots to represent the country.

The trials double up as the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships and Oregon qualifiers.

The trials will begin with the men’s race walking to take place at 12:00. The men’s 5000m will then get the track action underway at 13:10 while the final event will see Omanyala compete in the men's 100m on 25 June at 14:40.

Omanyala will be up against in the 100m trials Bonface Mweresa, Elijah Onkware, Samuel Imeta, Hesbon Ochieng, Dan Kiviazi, Mike Mokamba, Stephen Oluoch, and Moffat Ngari.

1,500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will return to Kasarani Stadium which has been a good hunting ground after winning the 2021 Kip Keino Classic at her own backyard.

A race that promises fireworks is the 800m that includes Texas-based runner Emmanuel Korir and teen sensation Emmanuel Wanyonyi who hopes for a podium finish in his debut season as a senior.

Conseslus Kipruto and Abraham Kibiwott will hope to qualify for the Commonwealth and World Championships and restore Kenya’s pride in the 3,000m Steeplechase where the country had won every men’s title since 1968, apart from 1976 and 1990, before losing gold at the Tokyo Olympics to Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali.