NAIROBI, Kenya, October 25 – Athletics Kenya (AK) have said they will only allow runners who have registered on the federation’s database to compete in the ongoing AK Cross Country Series.
Event director Kennedy Tanui said athletes whose details are not captured in its database may have challenges obtaining bib numbers and, hence, competing in the series.
“We are continuing with the process of registering athletes from across the country, for those who are yet to do so. You cannot get a bib number if you have not registered with the federation. We have our officials from Riadha House who will be registering athletes here (Kapsokwony). They will first register you on the database and then give you a running number,” Tanui said.
Registration has been ongoing for the past three months, with AK looking to capture the details of thousands of athletes in its database for seamless provision of services.
So far, the team have visited Iten, Eldoret, Kericho, Mumias, Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, Nyahururu, Nyeri, Machakos, Ngong and Nairobi to register athletes in these areas.
The process will continue at AK’s headquarters in Nairobi (Riadha House) as well as Eldoret until the end of the year to allow as many as possible to register.
Eyes on Kapsokwony
Tanui was speaking ahead of Saturday’s (October 26) second leg of the Cross Country Series at the Kapsokwony Boys’ Secondary School in Kapsokwony.
The series commenced on October 19 at the Machakos Teachers’ College where approximately 700 athletes competed across five categories of competition.
More athletes are expected to line up in Kapsokwony with collection of bib numbers ongoing until Friday evening.
Tanui warns that no one will be able to collect their his or her bib number on the day of competition.
“It is not only in Kenya that it is done this way but also worldwide, in most competitions. Regulations stipulate that bib numbers must be collected a day before the championships and not on the material day. So, today (Friday) is the deadline and anyone who fails to collect his or hers will not be able to compete tomorrow,” he explained.
Tanui further said preparations for the second leg are almost 100 per cent done.
He noted that athletes have been streaming in from far and wide to collect their bib numbers.
“We have checked out the course and it is ready to go. The only thing left to do is to put the tapes all around and brand the course. Athletes have been coming in from as early as 7 am; some from as far as Chepkitale,” Tanui said.
Notable athletes who will be in contention include Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Africa Cross Country silver medalist Naibei Kiplimo and Asbel Kiprono – winner of the senior men’s race in Machakos last weekend – among others.
The categories of competition include: senior men/women’s 10km; 8km under-20 men; 6km under-20 women; and 2km loop.