As preparations for the 2017 World Under-18 Championships to be held in Nairobi are underway, Athletics Kenya has chosen Nakuru to be the main training centre.
The chairman in charge of planning who doubles as Nairobi branch AK chair Barnabas Korir has said, the organization made the decision because the region has high altitude and has well organized athletes and coaches who have started training.
A delegation headed by Athletics Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei will tour Keringet Township where more than 200 juniour athletes from across the country are training for the World Championship.
“Keringet has been producing the highest number of gold medalist in various events. We have also established that this training camp led by Nakuru AK chair Kimutai Ngetich is doing well and we have chosen is as the main one in the country and the rest will act as satellite camps” Korir said.
While speaking at Keringet on Saturday evening where he visited training athletes said, AK is ready to prepare youths well ahead of that time.
“We are liaising with the Ministry of sports to ensure our athletes get enough training equipment and facilities” he said after he found youths using improvised javelins and short boots.
Korir added that they will ensure no corruption in the event that was witnessed in the Rio Olympic championships.
Faith Chepngetich, Fergusson Ngetich and Isaiah Koech who participated in this year’s Olympics in Rio hail from keringet.
“We want to empower this region by building facilities and training coaches because they have outstood in athletics by producing the World’s best athletes” Korir added.
He said, Team Kenya will produce two athletes in all eighteen events totaling to 36 athletes.
Nakuru AK branch chair said, over 200 athletes from Bomet, Kericho, Narok and Nakuru are now training at Keringet township.
He said, the region must produce the best athletes who will represent tea, Kenya.