Nairobi, June 20 (IANS): Athletics Kenya (AK) has announced that the trials for Beijing World Athletics Championships have been postponed by a week.

The federation said in a statement on Friday that the selection event for the biennial track and field championships has been deferred from July 24-25 to July 31-Aug 1, reports Xinhua.

AK CEO Isaac Mwangi confirmed the decision was made at the request of top athletes who will take part at the London IAAF Diamond League that falls on the same weekend as initial dates.

"Athletes requested us to give them a chance to run in London and we saw it prudent to grant their request. Looking at our programme, we have enough time to prepare for the World Championships since it's only a week," Mwangi explained.

The event, whose venue remains Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium, will be used to select Kenya's track and field athletes for the Beijing Worlds that run from August 22 to 30.

AK named a provisional marathon team of 11 on May 25, with world marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto and his predecessor Wilson Kipsang headlining the men's team.

Others in the men's list are reigning Paris marathon winner, Mark Korir Hamburg champion, Lucas Kimeli Rotich, Felix Kipchirchir Kiprotich and Luka Lokobe Kanda.

Defending champion Edna Kiplagat has the chance to go for an unprecedented hat-trick if she makes the final women's squad.

New York Marathon runner-up, Jemimah Sumgong, Tokyo silver medallist Helah Kiprop, 30, Visiline Jepkesho, 27, and Janet Jelagat, 26 complete the marathon line-up.