L. MathekaKenya finishes seventh as World Relays come to a close
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 03.05.21. | 09:50
Kenya failed to qualify any team to the Olympics in 4x400m men and women's races as well as 4x400m mixed relay
As the fifth edition of the World Relays, held in Poland, came to a close on Sunday, 2 May, came to a close, Kenya finished seventh with an improved medal count of two silver and one bronze up from the single bronze Kenya picked in the 2019 edition.
Having picked two medals, in shuttle relay and 2x2x400m in day one on Saturday, all hopes for another medal on the last day were pegged on the men’s and women’s 4x200m with the former delivering silver.
How KENYA stormed to men’s 4 X 200m silver at the World Relays in Poland.#WorldRelays pic.twitter.com/KNDpc7Z1K3
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) May 2, 2021
Kenya’s former 100m record holder, Mark Otieno, set the pace for the race as he ran 21.28 to bring the baton home in second place behind Ecuador with Mike Mokamba running the fastest split for the Kenyan team in 20.54 to hand over to Elijah Onkware in first place.
Onkware ran 21.13 but still managed to hold on to second place handing over to Hesborn Ochieng who anchored for second place in 21.31 for the Kenyan team to bag silver in 1:24.26, a season best.
Split Times of the Men's 4x200m Relays. Mike Mokamba Nyang'au with a 20.54 second run #WorldRelays pic.twitter.com/EuH0WaRB8G
— Daniel N Wahome (@MistaWahome) May 2, 2021
“This was definitely one for the books! Silver for the very first time for team Kenya. Humbled to have been a part of this history making team. Thank you to all the parties involved in making @wasilesia21possible during these impossible times,” Otieno wrote on his twitter account after the race.
Germany’s Lucas Ansah-Peprah and Owen Ansah were a world apart from the rest of the field as they gave jaw-dropping performances running 20.21 and 19.96 to hand Germany gold in 1:22.43, a season best. Portugal finished third in a national record time of 1:24.53 with Ecuador producing a national record of their own for fourth place in 1:24.89.
Akani Simbine led South Africa's 4x100m quartet (Dlodlo, Leotlela, Munyai and Simbine) to a dramatic victory at the World Athletics Relays.
— SuperSport ???? (@SuperSportTV) May 2, 2021
Simbine snatched victory on the line by a hundredth of a second in a time of 38.71 seconds.
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The Kenyan team of Priscilla Tabunda, Vanice Kerubo, Rukia Nusra, Wiseman Were, Michael Musyoka and Kipkorir Rotich who won bronze in shuttle relay pocketed at least Shs 539,000 (USD 5000).
The 4x200m men bagged Sh 1.2 million (USD 12,000) while Ferguson Rotich and Naomi Korir’s second place finish in 2x2x400m won the quarter at least Shs 646,800 (USD 6000).
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