NAIROBI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Edward Zakayo of Kenya will lead a galaxy of budding athletes as they battle it out for the 30 slots up for grab in the Kenya team to the World Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland in July.
Zakayo like other top youth athletes who have bloomed too early must not rest on their laurels as surprises and bruised ego are likely to be part of the selection competition with Kenya's next class of world beaters lining up for global recognition.
But the 18-year-old Zakayo is banking on the experience gained in the Diamond League and the Commonwealth Games to steer him to victory in Nairobi.
"Since coming from Gold Coast, I have been training for this trial and finally it's here with us. I expect a strong challenge but I'm pretty sure I will overcome them," Zakayo told Xinhua Sunday in Nairobi.
Another star in the making is George Manangoi, the world youth 1,500m champion.
Manangoi and 400m silver medalist Mary Moraa will be among the stars on show as they seek to represent Kenya in Tampere, Finland from July 10 to 15.
The team will be coached by the Robert Ngirisei, who led Kenya in scooping the overall title during the 2010 World Junior championships in Moncton, Canada in 2010.
During the last Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2016 Kenya won five gold medals, two silvers and two bronze finishing second behind USA.
"After winning the U-18 title I felt motivated to achieve more and follow my brother's footsteps. I will be hunting top podium place in Finland. I'm confident of my training have tested it in Doha and Rome Diamond League series. Though in Rome I picked a knee injury in the first 100m but it is now fully recovered," said Manangoi.
Moraa has been primed as the heir apparent to the 800m title. But the teenage girl is not taking anything beyond her strides and said she will be happy with a ticket to the World Junior Championships.
"The altitude in Nairobi (high) makes it hard to run fast time. I expect a fast time though to make the Kenya team. I'm confident of making it and going for gold in Finland," she said.
Also 2018 Africa Cross Country junior men champion Rhonex Kipruto and silver medalist Stanley Waithaka will hunt slots in Kenya team in the boys 10,000m and 5,000m respectively after a motivational performance in Algiers, Algeria in April.
The athletes went through vetting to establish their age, conducted by Athletics Kenya in Nairobi.
