Moraa, Omanyala headline World Relays team

Reigning Olympic bronze medalist Mary Moraa and Africa’s 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala headline Team Kenya’s squad of 21 athletes set to compete at the World Athletics Relays set for Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May in Guangzhou, China.

Athletics Kenya (AK) held an invite-only national trial on Saturday, 12 April, giving the team about a month to prepare for the action. 

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South Africa's Akani Simbine denies Omanyala victory in Botswana

The Commonwealth 100m champion, Omanyala, who missed the trials as he was away in Botswana for the Grand Prix, will be joined by former national champion and record holder Mark Otieno, and Meshack Babu, who were part of last year’s competition in Nassau, Bahamas.

Babu won the trials on Saturday after clocking 10.39 crossing the finish line, ahead of Moses Wasike (10.47) and Omanyala’s younger brother Isaac Omurwa (10.49), who claimed second and third, respectively, to make the team.

Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) Steve Onyango, who clocked 10.55 for fourth place, also makes the team.

This was Babu’s second race of the year after he finished second in the men’s 100m at last month’s Uganda National Trials in Kampala, clocking 10.41.

In the men’s 400m, Kip Keino Classic 400m hurdles champion Wiseman Were and Boniface Mweresa headline the 4x400m squad, the duo making a return to the national team.

While Were missed the trials as he was competing in Botswana, Mweresa placed fifth in a race won by Kevin Kipkorir in 45.24.

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The women’s 400m crew is led by national 400m record holder Moraa, fresh from a last-place finish in the 800m Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica, where she seems to have jogged to the finish line and, reportedly, fell ill after competing.

Former national 400m champion Mercy Oketch, who finished second behind Uganda’s Shida Leni in the women’s 400m final on Saturday, Mercy Chebet, and surprise pack, the national 100m and 200m champion Esther Mbagari, also make the provisional squad.

Selected Athletes

100m Men: Meshack Kitsbuli Babu (KDF) Moses Onyango Wasike (Western) Isaac Omurwa Kundu (University), Steve Onyango, Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno Odhiambo (Police)

400m Women: Mercy Adongo Oketch (KDF) Mercy Chebet (South Rift) , Esther Mbagari Okang'a (Prisons) Lanoline Aoko Owino (KDF) Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera (Southern) Gladys Mumbe David (Police) Hellen Syombua Kalii (Police), and Mary Moraa

400m Men: Kevin Kipkorir (North Rift) Tinega Brian Onyari (Police) Allan Kipyego (Police) Kelvin Kiprotich Tonui (Nairobi) Boniface Mweresa Ontuga (KDF) David Sanayek Kapirante (Prisons) Wiseman Were (KDF)

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