Athletics Kenya
Encyclopedia
Athletics Kenya
(AK)
is the governing body for the sport of athletics (track and field
) in Kenya
. It is a member of the IAAF
and Confederation of African Athletics
. AK
organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of Athletics Kenya. AK is headquartered in Riadha House, next to Nyayo National Stadium
, Nairobi
.
) in Kenya was governed by an organization known as Kenya Amateur Athletics Association
(KAAA) from 1951 until 2002 when the organization changed the name to Athletics Kenya (AK). Arthur (Archie) Evans is credited for starting organized athletics and forming Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) in 1951. Evans became the secretary of the newly formed KAAA and the late Sir Derek Erskine became its first chairman.
Kenya is a powerful nation in Athletics, but the talent is limited to long and middle distance running. Famous Kenyan runners typically come from districts like Keiyo
, Marakwet
and Nandi
in western Kenya. Almost all of them represent Kalenjin tribes.
Kenyan Championships are held in summer, but separate trials are used to pick athletes for major international championships. Top Kenyan athletes usually attend these events, since those who skip them are likely miss major championships as well. Many leading Kenyan runners mostly compete in Europe, national championships and trials are the only event where local spectators can see them competing.
Other competitions organised by AK include series of track and cross-country meetings and number of road races
. Kenya hosts three annual marathon
events. Nairobi Marathon
is the youngest, but is now leading in competitiveness and participation. Others are Mombasa Marathon
and Great Lake Marathon, which is held in Kisumu
. Additionally, there is a competition known as a Lewa Marathon
, which involves races equal to full (42 km) and half marathon
, but it is a cross-country race and thus cannot be classified as a marathon. Nevertheless, the half marathon event of Lewa Marathon has allured many Kenyan international runner and the event has been won by Paul Tergat
, Catherine Ndereba
and Joyce Chepchumba
in recent years.
Many Kenyan runners are affiliated to governmental organisations like Armed Forces
, Kenya Prisons or Kenya Police
, which provide livelihood as well as training. In addition there are several private athetics clubs, like Mfae (based in Nyahururu
) and Kiptenden (based in Kericho
).
Athletics Kenya operates an Athletics Museum in Riadha House, Nairobi. The museum was opened on November 1, 2006 .
AK has been awarded the Kenyan Sports Federation of the Year
award in 2006 2009 and 2010
Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Kenya. It is a member of the IAAF and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of...
(AK)
Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Kenya. It is a member of the IAAF and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of...
is the governing body for the sport of athletics (track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
) in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is a member of the IAAF
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
and Confederation of African Athletics
Confederation of African Athletics
The Confederation of African Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Africa. It is headquartered in Senegal. It organises the African Championships in Athletics and other continental competitions.-Members:...
. AK
Athletics Kenya
Athletics Kenya is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Kenya. It is a member of the IAAF and Confederation of African Athletics. AK organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of...
organises athletics competitions held in Kenya. It also sends Kenyan teams to international championships. Isaiah Kiplagat is the current chairman of Athletics Kenya. AK is headquartered in Riadha House, next to Nyayo National Stadium
Nyayo National Stadium
Nyayo National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located near the city centre. The stadium holds 30,000 people and was built in 1983. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The popular AFC Leopards football club plays most of its home games at Nyayo stadium. ...
, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
History
Athletics (track and fieldTrack and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
) in Kenya was governed by an organization known as Kenya Amateur Athletics Association
Kenya Amateur Athletics Association
Kenya Amateur Athletics Association was the athletics governing body in Kenya between 1951-2002.-History:Authur Evans is credited in the formation of the association during his tenure as the Colonial Sports Officer in Kenya. Sir Derek Erskin became the associations' first chairman...
(KAAA) from 1951 until 2002 when the organization changed the name to Athletics Kenya (AK). Arthur (Archie) Evans is credited for starting organized athletics and forming Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA) in 1951. Evans became the secretary of the newly formed KAAA and the late Sir Derek Erskine became its first chairman.
Kenya is a powerful nation in Athletics, but the talent is limited to long and middle distance running. Famous Kenyan runners typically come from districts like Keiyo
Keiyo District
Keiyo District is an administrative district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The district was formed in 1994, when Elgeyo/Marakwet-District was split into two, the other half is Marakwet District of today. Keiyo District has a population of 143.865...
, Marakwet
Marakwet District
Marakwet District is an administrative district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kapsowar. The district has a population of 140.629 . Local people are predominantly of the Marakwet tribe....
and Nandi
Nandi District
Nandi District is an administrative district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kapsabet. The district has a population of 578,751 .The topography of the district is dominated by the Nandi Hills...
in western Kenya. Almost all of them represent Kalenjin tribes.
Kenyan Championships are held in summer, but separate trials are used to pick athletes for major international championships. Top Kenyan athletes usually attend these events, since those who skip them are likely miss major championships as well. Many leading Kenyan runners mostly compete in Europe, national championships and trials are the only event where local spectators can see them competing.
Other competitions organised by AK include series of track and cross-country meetings and number of road races
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
. Kenya hosts three annual marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
events. Nairobi Marathon
Nairobi Marathon
Nairobi Marathon is an annual road running competition over the marathon distance which held in October in Nairobi, Kenya. First held in 2003, the competition expanded and now includes a half marathon race along with the main race....
is the youngest, but is now leading in competitiveness and participation. Others are Mombasa Marathon
Mombasa Marathon
The Mombasa Marathon is a marathon run in the Kenyan city of Mombasa. Currently sponsored by Safaricom, the race takes place annually in May, with the course's start and finish lines at Treasury Square in the city's Old Town area.- History :The marathon was first run in 1985, though winner...
and Great Lake Marathon, which is held in Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
. Additionally, there is a competition known as a Lewa Marathon
Lewa marathon
The Lewa Marathon is an annual fund raising event held at Lewa Downs, about north of Nairobi, Kenya. The endurance race is sponsored by Safaricom in partnership with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in order to raise funds for numerous community development and wildlife conservation efforts...
, which involves races equal to full (42 km) and half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
, but it is a cross-country race and thus cannot be classified as a marathon. Nevertheless, the half marathon event of Lewa Marathon has allured many Kenyan international runner and the event has been won by Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat
Paul Kibii Tergat is a Kenyan professional long distance runner. He held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.Now concentrating exclusively on the marathon, Tergat won many...
, Catherine Ndereba
Catherine Ndereba
Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals in the Olympics in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon...
and Joyce Chepchumba
Joyce Chepchumba
Joyce Chepchumba is a long distance athlete from Kenya.- Achievements :*1995**Tilburg Ten Miles winner**Parelloop 10Kwinner *1997**London Marathon winner*1998**Chicago Marathon winner*1999...
in recent years.
Many Kenyan runners are affiliated to governmental organisations like Armed Forces
Military of Kenya
The Kenya Defence Forces are the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. The Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, and Kenya Air Force comprise the national Defence Forces. The current Kenya Defence Forces were established, and its composition laid out, in Article 241 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya...
, Kenya Prisons or Kenya Police
Kenya Police
The Kenya Police is a national body in charge of law enforcement in the East Africa State of Kenya. While organised at a national level, each arm reports to a Provincial police authority, which in turn divides its force by local Police Divisions, headquartered at local police stations...
, which provide livelihood as well as training. In addition there are several private athetics clubs, like Mfae (based in Nyahururu
Nyahururu
Nyahururu is a town in Kenya, lying east of Nakuru. It is part of Laikipia District in Rift Valley Province. Despite this, Nyahururu formerly functioned as the administrative capital of Nyandarua District, one of seven districts that constitute Central Province in Kenya, until the headquarters...
) and Kiptenden (based in Kericho
Kericho
Kericho is a Kenyan County located to the South West of the country and lies within the highlands west of The Great Rift Valley. The capital of the district is Kericho town. The district home to the best of Kenyan Tea which is world famous for its brightness, attractive color, brisk flavor and...
).
Athletics Kenya operates an Athletics Museum in Riadha House, Nairobi. The museum was opened on November 1, 2006 .
AK has been awarded the Kenyan Sports Federation of the Year
Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year
Kenyan Sport Personality of the Year Awards, also known as SOYA Awards, are annual national awards given for sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the next year Kenyan Sport...
award in 2006 2009 and 2010
Chairmen
- Derek Erskine (1950–1964)
- Musembi Mbathi (1964–1968)
- Bartonjo RotichBartonjo RotichBartonjo Rotich is a retired runner from Kenya who specialised in 400 metres and 400 metres hurdles.He went to Alliance High School...
(1968–1972) - Charles Mukora (1972–1974)
- Sam Ongeri (1974–1984)
- Paul Boit (1984–1992)
- Isaiah Kiplagat (1992-)