NAIROBI, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's athletics officials said Monday that at least 300 athletes have so far confirmed participation in the national trials slated for Saturday, during which they will be vying for the 35 slots in the Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships.

    Athletics Kenya Secretary David Okeyo said athletes who will make it to the national team during the Tusker national cross country trials set for this Saturday will proceed to residential camp in Embu, eastern Kenya next Monday.

    "In the 12 km race, the first six across the line will be selected, but in the other three categories, it will be the first four across the line with the other two being picked either through wild card or through deliberations by the coaches," Okeyo said.

    Okeyo told a news conference in Nairobi that for the first time in Kenya's history, the trials would be held in the afternoon as opposed to its traditional morning schedule so that athletes can acclimatize to the weather conditions expected during the world event to be staged in Mombasa on March 24th.

    "We are doing this because we want to give our athletes a taste of what will happen in Mombasa. As you know Mombasa will be very hot as Nairobi is now and the event in Mombasa will be held in the afternoon so we want to give them an experience of running in the afternoon," said Okeyo.

    Okeyo expressed confidence that the World championships will goon despite Sunday's protests by Muslim leaders in the coastal town.

    "There is no cause for alarm because I believe the government will look into it so that no threats are made to the teams and athletes when they come here," he added.

    Okeyo said the top four in the women's 8 km race, junior women 6 km and junior men 8 km races will also secure places in the national team.

    The remaining 17 slots will be filled by wild card athletes selected on merit based on their performance at the national championships held in Mombasa.