AK to introduce specialised training camps

Athletics Kenya (AK) is taking bold steps to revive Kenya’s dominance in steeplechase by introducing specialised training camps for athletes targeting the prestigious event.

The camps, set to begin next week, are a crucial part of the country’s preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2025.

Paul Mutui, the Vice President of AK, emphasized the importance of these camps in addressing the decline in Kenya’s performance in steeplechase, an event the country has long been synonymous with.

 He expressed the federation’s determination to restore Kenya’s once unmatched glory in the race.

Speaking at the second AK Track and Field Meet 2025 held at Thika Stadium in Kiambu County, Mutui admitted that Kenya's standing in steeplechase had been affected in recent years.

The specialized camps are aimed at refining the skills of selected top athletes and ensuring they are well-prepared for the high-level competition at the world championships.

In Thika, Boniface Mweresa and Millicent Ndoro clocked 10.1 and 11.6 seconds respectively to win the men and women 100m of the AK’s track and field meet 2025.

One of the standout performances came from Denis Mwai, a 2005-born sprinter from Mukurwe-ini village in Nyeri County.

Mwai clocked an impressive 10.2 seconds to secure second place in the 100m, finishing just behind Mweresa.

Despite being relatively new to competitive athletics, he has been training independently under the guidance of his coach and is eager to represent Kenya at the world championships.

Africa’s best sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, also participated in the event but not for competition.

Omanyala, who has dominated the 100m and 200m sprints in Africa, used the occasion to connect with young athletes and motivate them, sharing his experiences and offering encouragement.

In other events, the high jump saw Edwin Kipmutai from the Kenya Prisons secure the men’s title with a clearance of 1.90 meters, while Faith Kipsang won the women’s event with a mark of 1.68 meters.

The men’s hammer throw was won by Dominic Ondigi of KDF with a distance of 54.45 meters, and Nancy Kanini claimed victory in the women’s event with a throw of 49.29 meters.

Caleb Kiprop and Caroline Cherotich emerged winners in the men’s and women’s discus throw, registering distances of 45.93 meters and 49.97 meters, respectively.