Athletics Kenya prepares for the fifth Track and Field weekend meet this Friday at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex. With regional championships approaching, this event offers athletes a vital chance to sharpen skills and assess competitive readiness.
Athletics Kenya Nairobi vice chairman Gideon Nyangechi believes the event offers athletes a vital chance to improve and prepare competitively.
“The Ulinzi meet offers a perfect stage for our athletes to prepare for the regional events and eventually the national championships. The level of competition expected will give them a clear picture of where they stand as we head into a critical period of the athletics season,” said Nyangechi as qouted by The Star.
This week’s event follows a successful curtain-raiser in Nakuru on April 5, at the Afraha Stadium. Samuel Gathimba dominated the 15km race walk, while Sylvia Kemboi clinched the women’s crown. Simon Mungai and Cynthia Chepng’eno stole the spotlight in the men’s and women’s 5,000m races, respectively.
AK weekend series hits Nairobi after successful stops in Kapsabet, Thika, Mumias, and Nakuru this season. Sponsored by Betika, the circuit boasts a substantial prize pool of Sh1,170,000, attracting elite and upcoming athletes across 12 events.
Track events include sprints (100m, 400m), middle-distance races (800m, 1500m), and endurance challenges (3000m steeplechase, 10,000m), alongside the thrilling 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Winners in each category will take home Sh20,000, with second and third-place finishers earning Sh15,000 and Sh10,000, respectively.
Nyangechi said the meet follows World Athletics and AK rules, guaranteeing professionalism and fair competition. These meets are key qualifiers for AK regionals, where 16 affiliates pick teams for June’s national championships.
Nyangechi reminds athletes to collect bibs by Thursday for Friday’s AK meet at Ulinzi Complex.
“Please note that registration and issuance of running numbers will not take place on the competition days,” he cautioned.
The AK meets will prepare athletes for September’s World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13–21 in Tokyo, Japan.
