Moraa opens up on Team Kenya’s relay team disqualification
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 13.09.25. | 09:13
Kipyego was judged to have stepped over the line completely at the bend, Kenya's disqualification handing hosts Japan a ticket to the final
Kenya’s 4x400m mixed relay squad was the first to take to the track on Saturday, 13 September, as the Tokyo World Championships got underway, with Brian Tinega, Mercy Adongo, Allan Kipyego, and Mary Moraa in action.
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Lining up in heat two, the quartet broke the African Record set by South Africa just five minutes before in 3:10.73 for second place. Belgium won the heat in a time of 3:10.37.
Their time beat South Africa’s time of 3:11.16, which was set in Heat 1.
Kenya’s celebrations for storming into the final were, however, cut short when a lane infringement disqualified the East African nation.
Pure Joy ⏩ ⏩ then immense heartbreak 💔 💔 a few minutes later.
— Lynne Wachira (@WachiraLynne) September 13, 2025
The Kenya 🇰🇪 Mixed 4 by 400m team ran a spectacular heat to qualify for the final while breaking the African record (3:10:37)
Team was however DQ’ed due to a lane infringement.
A tough day for the team! pic.twitter.com/Swb7c3qaHE
“Heartbreaking. Ran my heart out at anchor leg, but we get disqualified for lane infringement. We learn and get to fight another day. My next race is on Thursday when I start my 800m title defence (sic),” Moraa expressed after the decision, one that Team Kenya appealed.
Placed in lane five, Tinega got the Kenyan side going, handing the baton to Adongo in third place. Adongo maintained his position, handing over to Kipyego, still in an automatic qualification position.
The third leg was Kenya’s slowest, Moraa getting the baton in fifth place. The reigning 800m world champion did well to close the gap, reeling in Spain and Poland to move third.
On the final bend, Moraa unleashed her signature kick to get the better of the Netherlands and move behind Belgium, who had built a significant advantage, holding on for victory.
The team was, however, thrown into immense heartbreak during their post-race interviews, being informed that they had been disqualified for breaking World Athletics Rule TR17.23. (Use for a direct DQ for lane infringement, e.g., stepping over the line completely or multiple infringements on the line in the same race run in lanes)
Kipyego was judged to have stepped over the line completely at the bend, leading to direct disqualification.
Poland moved to third to gain a direct qualifying slot while home team Japan earned a slot in Saturday’s final as one of the best losers.
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