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‎The 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor shot put champion Peter Mwangi will be keen to defend his crown when the global showpiece returns to Gainesville, Florida, in March 2027.

‎Mwangi is among the athletes expected to headline Kenya's campaign as the country begins preparations for the championships, with Kenya Masters Athletics having scheduled trials for November 6 next week.

‎The venue for the selection trials is yet to be disclosed.

‎The 2027 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships is scheduled for March 18–26 in Gainesville.

‎At the 2025 edition, also held in Gainesville, Mwangi won gold in the M40 shot put category after an impressive heave of 14.79m to secure the world title. ‎The three-time national shot put champion is already looking forward to defending his title. "The aim is to try and defend my World Indoor title," he said.

‎Kenya will also be keen to build on its impressive outing at the 2025 Indoor Championships, where the country collected eight medals, comprising four gold and four silver.

Apart from Mwangi, other gold medallists were Francis Bowen (M50 3,000m), Eric Shikuku (M50 3,000m race walk) and Millicent Ndoro (M35 200m).

‎The upcoming indoor campaign returns after another impressive international outing for Kenyan Masters at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

‎At the championships, Kenya finished 12th overall with 27 medals (15 gold, seven silver and five bronze), to top Africa.

‎South Africa finished as the continent's second-best representative in 23rd place after collecting 25 medals. ‎The United States dominated the overall medal standings with a commanding 226 medals. ‎Australia followed in second place with 172, as hosts Japan completed the podium with 158.

After Kenya's impressive medal haul in Daegu, African Masters Athletics (AFMA) President and Athletics Kenya Masters Secretary General, Rose Tata, said attention shifts to the 2027 indoor campaign.

‎"Next year we are going to the World Indoors in Florida, so we have to prepare," she said.

‎Tata also paid tribute to the master athletes, describing them as the embodiment of resilience, dedication and an enduring passion for athletic excellence.‎ ‎"The reason why the masters are still running is to keep fit, and it is also very healthy. They could have retired after their senior careers, but they chose not to," she said.

After an action-packed opening leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country circuit in Machakos, attention now shifts to the second stop as the series heads to Kimilili in Bungoma County this weekend.

The Kimilili showdown is scheduled for Saturday at Amutala Stadium, where athletes will once again battle for honours as they seek to build momentum in the new cross country season.

Just like the season opener in Machakos, the Kimilili leg will feature four categories. The programme will feature the Under-18 4km girls' and 6km boys' races, the Under-20 6km women's and 8km men's contests, the senior men's and women's 10km races and the 2km races for both men and women.

Ahead of the second leg, AK has called on athletes to turn out in large numbers and register through its website, while wishing all competitors the very best as they prepare to take to the starting line.

"We wish all participants the very best as they prepare for the second cross country meet of the season," the federation said in a statement.

Beyond providing a competitive platform for athletes to test their endurance and gauge their early-season form, the championships will also offer an attractive prize purse for the leading finishers.

Winners in the senior races will pocket Sh50,000, while the runners-up and third-place finishers will take home Sh40,000 and Sh25,000, respectively, with prize money extending down to 10th place.

In the Under-20 category, the top three finishers will earn Sh30,000, Sh20,000 and Sh15,000, respectively, while the Under-18 races and the 2km loop will offer Sh10,000 to the winners, Sh8,000 to the runners-up and Sh6,000 to those finishing third.

The circuit got off to an exciting start at the Machakos Teachers Training College, where Fredrick Chebii and Emmaculate Jepkosgei stamped their authority in the senior races, laying down an early marker for their rivals as the series gathered pace

In the senior men's 10km race, Chebii dictated the pace from the gun, maintaining a commanding pace before crossing the finish line in 29:55.8 to clinch victory. Kenneth Kiprono Lagat followed in second place in 30:33.7, while Peter Makau Mutie completed the podium in 30:35.3

Chebii described the AK Cross Country circuit as an ideal platform to sharpen his endurance and build a solid foundation ahead of a busy 2027 season. "I believe cross country will help me in building my endurance before I shift focus to the road races and track," Chebii said.

In the senior women's 10km contest, Jepkosgei produced an authoritative display, pulling clear of the lead pack to win in 33:46.7.

Betty Chelangat secured second place in 34:32.6, while Miriam Chemutai Kibet completed the podium in 34:44.1. For Jepkosgei, the Machakos triumph was particularly sweet, having arrived at the season opener determined to make amends following a disappointing outing at the Betika Cross Country in Kericho.

"I came here to redeem myself after finishing second at the Betika Cross Country in Kericho, and I am happy I managed to achieve that," Jepkosgei said.

Jepkosgei was delighted to have won despite the challenging weather conditions. She admitted that the scorching sun had made the contest a demanding test of endurance. "The race was very tough because of the sun, but I had to push myself and take the win because that's what I came here for. I am very happy," she added

The junior categories in Machakos also produced impressive performances, with Faith Cherotich powering to the Under-18 girls' 4km title in 13:42.20, while Jairus Byegon claimed the boys' crown in 18:29.0.

In the Under-20 races, rising prospect Cynthia Chepkurui clinched the women's 6km title in 20:20.4, while Edwin Elkana triumphed in the men's 8km contest, clocking 24:01.7.