Intro:

World 800-metres champion David Rudisha, hot favourite for gold at the London Olympics, and Olympic 1500-metres champion Asbel Kiprop both cruised to comfortable victories in their heats at the Kenya trials on Thursday.

The finals - which will decide who travels to London for the Olympics - take place on Saturday.

Script:

With just over a month til the start of the London Olympics, Kenya is close to deciding the elite band of athletes who will represent it at the Games.

800-metres world champion David Rudisha is almost certain to feature after cruising to victory in his heat at the Kenya athletics trials on Thursday.

Rudisha has run the two fastest times in the world this year and could even feature in Kenya's 4x400 metres relay team in London.

SOUNDBITE (English): David Rudisha, 800-metres world record holder:
"Competition is very competitive, we have guys who have trained and they are ready, I know, and that is good for us because we will get real quality competition."

Middle-distance runner Afbel Kiprop will also be chasing gold this summer.

He won by default four years ago in Beijing after the original winner Rashid Ramzi tested positive for illegal drugs.

The 1500-metres specialist made an easy progression to Saturday's final.

SOUNDBITE (English): Afbel Kiprop, 1500-metres Olympic champion:
"I'm looking forward to, first of all, make it to the finals on Saturday, to make the team, to be selected between the three and seeing if I can win a medal maybe in London."

The finals for the qualifiers will be held in Nairobi this Saturday.