Stanley Waithaka Mburu of Kenya(M).

There has been late additions to Team Kenya’s Tokyo squad after visa challenges prompted inclusion of reserves for championship security.

Team Kenya have been forced to bring in last-minute reinforcements to their squad for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with Stanley Waithaka and Teresia Gateri being added as reserves to cushion against visa-related uncertainty.

Waithaka, the 2022 world 10,000m silver medalist, and Gateri, the 2021 world under-20 3,000m champion, were named in the team to provide cover for athletes who are struggling to get Japanese travel documents.

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“We didn’t want to take chances with some of these challenges coming late. Ewoi and Kurgat were facing challenges in getting visas. That is why we picked on the two athletes, who are based in Japan, to be safe,” said team manager Kennedy Tanui as per Nation.

In all, 50 Kenyan athletes departed from Nairobi on Wednesday night in three groups on Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines, and KLM through Amsterdam.

The final batch of 10 athletes will depart on Tuesday, September 9, prior to the start of the championships on September 13. Tokyo is staging the world championships for a second time, the first one being in 1991, when Kenya finished fourth on the medal standings with eight medals.

Tanui also stated that Waithaka and Gateri had completed Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) requirements and were prepared to step up if needed.

Waithaka, 25, returns after injury prevented him from competing at Budapest 2023 and the Paris 2024 Olympics, while Gateri, 23, is in line to earn her senior debut.

Waithaka, who won a silver medal in Oregon in 2022, has been sharpening his shape in Japan and is confident of adapting to the local weather if called upon.

“I am fit as a fiddle. I am used to the Japanese weather, having been here since 2018,” he said as per Nation.

Gateri on his part, the call-up comes when she has been making a transition from the 3,000m and 5,000m to the 1,500m.

She hinted at the transition early this year during the Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meeting in Thika, where she triumphed in the metric mile.

“I focused on the 1,500m since I feel I have the strength for the event and not the 5,000m that was my previous target. I don’t have the endurance for the distance races,” she said.

She also finished fifth at the national trials and qualified through the better world ranking, while her performance at last year’s Africa Championships pointed to her growing presence in the middle-distance fold.

Besides the reserves, Team Kenya’s roster boasts of seasoned stars and future prospects.

The men’s team has world cross-country under-20 champion Ishmael Kipkurui and Benson Kiplangat, the 2021 world under-20 5,000m champion and world cross-country bronze medallist.

In the sprints and field, Ferdinand Omanyala and Julius Yego add depth and experience, while reigning 800m champion Mary Moraa is already in Tokyo to take part in the 4x400m mixed relay.

All is going on well and upward and surprises are anticipated,” middle and long distance coach Gedion Chirchir stated.

“We have had productive training and what stood out is the athletes’ discipline and hard work.”

Kenya, which secured 10 medals in Budapest 2023, will be aiming to improve on that tally in Tokyo.