By Athletics Kenya
Thika Stadium is set to roar back to action on January 15–17, 2026, as it stages the second leg of the Athletics Kenya Track and Field Weekend meeting.
This will be a crucial early-season battleground for athletes looking to lay down early markers for explosive starts to their new campaign.
”Athletics Kenya Central Region will host the 2nd AK/Betika track and field meet on January 15–17, 2026, at the Thika Stadium,” AK said in a statement
”The event ushering in the new year will serve as the second meet of the 2026 track and field season,” the statement added.
The meeting comes hot on the heels of the postponed first leg of the 2026 calendar, which had been set for the Mumias Sports Complex on November 7-8.
To compensate, the Thika meet will feature a full programme of events initially set for Mumias.
”Following the cancellation of the first meet scheduled for Mumias, the Thika meet will now host a full programme, inclusive of all events that were not held in Mumias,” the statement added.
A total of 14 events will be contested in Thika.
The track events include: 100m, 110m/100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m and race walk for both men and women.
The field events will include Hammer Throw, Javelin, Discus, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump for both men and women, as well as the Decathlon and Heptathlon events.
Prize money for AK meets
Up for grabs is a cash prize of Sh20,000 for the winners, with second and third place taking Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 respectively.
During last year’s meeting at the Thika Stadium, three-time African Championships race walk champion Samuel Gathimba claimed the 10,000m walk crown, stopping the clock in 41:44.7.
Heristone Wanyonyi (42:40.6) and Stephen Ndagiri (42:55.2) completed the podium.
In the women’s steeplechase, Celestial Biwott was triumphant, crossing the finish line in 10:16.3 ahead of Dorothy Kimutai (11:00.4) and Ann Ndungu (11:02.2).
The 100m sprint saw veteran Boniface Mweresa claim the crown in 10.1 seconds, with youngsters Dennis Mwai and Isaac Omurwa both clocking 10.2 for second and third place respectively.
At the Thika meeting next year, the Utawala Sprints Club sprinters will be the team to watch over both the men’s and women’s events.
AK reiterated the importance of picking running numbers before the event dates.
”All athletes will be required to collect their running/bib numbers on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at the event venue, starting from 9 am to 6 pm.”
”Please note that registration and issuance of running/bib numbers will not be conducted on the event days.”
The federation further wished the athletes success in their build-up for the 2026 season.
”We wish all the participants the very best as they prepare and participate in the 2nd meet in Thika.”
