/ 13 March 2000

WILDCARDS FOR TOP KENYAN RUNNERS

KENYAN athletics officials said on Monday that they will ask the International Amateur Athletics Federation to grant cross country title holders automatic qualification to the next championships. Kenya Amateur Ahletic Association (KAAA) secretary David Okeyo told reporters at the weekend that five-time world champion, Paul Tergat, has been granted automatic qualification to run in the world championships in Vilamoura, Portugal on March 18-19. But Okeyo said on Monday: “I want to put the record straight. The KAAA will propose to the IAAF cross country and road running committee that former champions are given wild cards”. He said Tergat was included in the Kenyan team by virtue of his having won the national trials in Nairobi in February.