Sum, Rudisha, Cherono Among Top Athletes for Safaricom Athletics Finals This Weekend

JULY 29th 2015... 3,000M steeplechase Champion Ezekiel Kemboi and 800M World Record Holder David Rudisha are some of the top names expected to battle it out for a chance to represent Kenya in two upcoming international races, when they meet their challengers at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani this weekend.

The elite athletes will be among the 500 sportsmen and women invited to the Safaricom Athletics Series National Track and Field Championship Finals, a 2-day event that will be held from 31st July– 1st August 2015.

Also in the line-up for a chance to participate in the 2015 IAAF World Track and Field Championships, to be held from 22nd – 30th August 2015 in Beijing, China, are World 800M Champion Eunice Sum, Mercy Cherono and African Javelin Record Holder Julius Yego.

The event is a culmination of the Safaricom Athletics Series track and field events held in various parts of the country since April, a new category introduced this year to identify talent in sports such javelin, long jump and high jump.

“We will select a team of 52 athletes that will compete in both IAAF championships in China and the All Africa games in Congo Brazzaville in August and September respectively. The team will be accompanied by 12 AK officials. We are confident that Kenya will field a strong team and we hope to continue dominating the races as has been our tradition,” said Athletics Kenya Vice President David Okeyo.

The event comes after the National Track and Field Championship Trials held in Safaricom Stadium Kasarani earlier this month, where new Kenyan records were broken in the 100M, 200M and 400M races.

“It’s very encouraging to see the talent we have in Kenya. The stellar performance of these athletes is a great source of pride for us and it is our hope that the team selected to represent Kenya in the World championships in China and Congo will come back winners,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

Since taking over the title sponsorship of the athletics series in 2013, Safaricom has invested over Kshs.200 million in various events all over the country, giving many upcoming athletes a platform to showcase their talent. This sponsorship has also cemented Safaricom’s position as the biggest corporate sponsor of sports in the country.

“We will continue to support athletics in partnership with Athletics Kenya to ensure that we give athletes a platform to showcase their skills. Our objective is to transform lives using sports,” added Mr. Collymore.

JULY 29th 2015... 3,000M steeplechase Champion Ezekiel Kemboi and 800M World Record Holder David Rudisha are some of the top names expected to battle it out for a chance to represent Kenya in two upcoming international races, when they meet their challengers at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani this weekend.

The elite athletes will be among the 500 sportsmen and women invited to the Safaricom Athletics Series National Track and Field Championship Finals, a 2-day event that will be held from 31st July– 1st August 2015.

Also in the line-up for a chance to participate in the 2015 IAAF World Track and Field Championships, to be held from 22nd – 30th August 2015 in Beijing, China, are World 800M Champion Eunice Sum, Mercy Cherono and African Javelin Record Holder Julius Yego.

The event is a culmination of the Safaricom Athletics Series track and field events held in various parts of the country since April, a new category introduced this year to identify talent in sports such javelin, long jump and high jump.

“We will select a team of 52 athletes that will compete in both IAAF championships in China and the All Africa games in Congo Brazzaville in August and September respectively. The team will be accompanied by 12 AK officials. We are confident that Kenya will field a strong team and we hope to continue dominating the races as has been our tradition,” said Athletics Kenya Vice President David Okeyo.

The event comes after the National Track and Field Championship Trials held in Safaricom Stadium Kasarani earlier this month, where new Kenyan records were broken in the 100M, 200M and 400M races.

“It’s very encouraging to see the talent we have in Kenya. The stellar performance of these athletes is a great source of pride for us and it is our hope that the team selected to represent Kenya in the World championships in China and Congo will come back winners,” said Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

Since taking over the title sponsorship of the athletics series in 2013, Safaricom has invested over Kshs.200 million in various events all over the country, giving many upcoming athletes a platform to showcase their talent. This sponsorship has also cemented Safaricom’s position as the biggest corporate sponsor of sports in the country.

“We will continue to support athletics in partnership with Athletics Kenya to ensure that we give athletes a platform to showcase their skills. Our objective is to transform lives using sports,” added Mr. Collymore.