Athletics Kenya has announced the 10 athletes who will represent Kenya at the upcoming World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, next week.
Among the athletes selected is African 800m silver medalist Lilian Odira, who will compete in the women’s 800m, alongside Vivian Chebet, her teammate from last year’s Summer Olympics in Paris.
Noah Kibet, the 2022 World Indoor 800m silver medalist, makes his return to Team Kenya after an impressive run of form in the United States.
The 20-year-old secured silver in Belgrade, Serbia, with a time of 1:46.35, just months after winning bronze at the World U20 Championships in Nairobi, where he clocked 1:44.88 in the men’s 800m.
Kibet will be joined by Africa 800m champion Alex Ng’eno Kipng’etich, who is aiming for his third international medal.
The 24-year-old previously won the men’s 800m at the 2018 World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, with a time of 1:46.45.
Completing the men’s 800m lineup is Collins Kipruto, who will be making his second appearance at the championships.
In the 2022 World Indoor Championships, the 30-year-old narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth with a time of 1:48.18.
In the men’s 1500m, Kenya will be represented by Festus Lagat, based in the United States, as well as Susan Ejore in the women’s race.
This will be Ejore’s second appearance for Team Kenya, following her sixth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she clocked 3:56.07 in the women’s 1500m.
Another athlete based in the U.S., Dorcas Ewoi, will make her international debut for Kenya at this year’s championships.
Kenyan mountain running legend Purity Gitonga will represent the country in the women’s 3000m.
The 28-year-old has been in exceptional form on the World Indoor Tour, finishing third in Ostrava with a time of 8:39.36, before clinching victory in Metz with a time of 8:45.11.
Kenya’s sole representative in the men’s 3000m will be African Games 5000m bronze medalist Cornelius Kemboi.
This will mark his fifth appearance in international competition for Kenya.
Kenya will be hoping for a more successful outcome than last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where Beatrice Chepkoech was the country’s only medalist, claiming bronze in the women’s 3000m.
