The world 800 metres record holder David Rudisha also seems set to miss the event, due to be between April 4 and 15.

World and Olympic 1500m gold medallist Faith Chepngetich and 5,000m champion Mercy Cherono have not been invited to take part in the Kenyan trials for Gold Coast 2018 later this week.

James Magut, winner of the men's 1500m, has also not been asked to take part.

Rudisha, winner of the 800m Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and Rio 2016, is recovering from injury and fears he will not be ready in time for the Games.

He finished second at Glasgow 2014 as Kenya topped the overall medals table. 

They won a total of 23 medals, 10 of them gold, to pip Jamaica.

Eunice Sum, winner of the women's 800m at Glasgow 2014, is among the defending champions to have been invited to the trials due to take place at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani on February 16 and 17.

Sum also won the 2013 International Association of Athletics (IAAF) World Championships in Moscow.

She is set to face Janeth Jepkosgei, the 2007 IAAF World Championship and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who is making a comeback at the age of 34 following a three-year maternity break. 

Also in the field is set to be 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera.

Several other of Kenya's champions from Glasgow 2014 will also be missing as they did not register in time.

They include Caleb Mwangangi, winner of the men's 5,000m, and Joyce Chepkirui and Flomena Cheyech, gold medallists in the 10,000m and marathon respectively in Scotland four years ago.

Jonathan Muia, winner of the 3,000m steeplechase at Glasgow, meanwhile, has decided not to defend that title at Gold Coast 2018 and will instead try to qualify for the 10,000m.

In his absence, world and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto will be favourite extend a remarkable record which has seen a Kenyan runner win the title in 10 of the last 11 editions.

The only time they did not win it - at Edinburgh 1986 - was because the country boycotted the Games. 

Commonwealth 3,000m steeplechase champion Purity Kirui, winner of the women's 3,000m steeplechase at Glasgow 2014, is hoping to defend her title. 

She will face opposition from 2015 world champion Hyvin Kiyeng, the Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016 and winner of the bronze at last year's IAAF World Championships in London. 

Also hoping to qualify are 2016 IAAF World Championships Under-20 champion Cellphine Chespol, the 2014 world under-18 champion.

Considering Kenya's strength in depth, it a surprise that Alice Aprot and Emily Chebet are the only athletes to have entered for the 10,000m. 

They will, therefore, be selected automatically for Gold Coast 2018 and a runner picked for the 5,000m will be asked to fill the third spot.