Omanyala anchors Kenya to new national record amid tough day in Botswana

There was heartbreak for Kenyan teams as they failed to secure extra World Championships places for next year, during the second and final day of the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Botswana on Sunday, 3 April.

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Kenya, who on Saturday, saw their mixed 4x400m relay squad book their place in the 2027 Beining Championships in style, were expectant to have more teams join them in securing their tickets, only for them to falter a day later.

Kenya book slot in World Championships after record breaking start at World Athletics Relays

All the teams involved in the qualifiers dropped below the two automatic places in their respective heats, but there was history, as the men’s 4x100 men’s team broke the national record.

The team, led by Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, clocked a time of 38.27 in the first of two 4x100 men’s heats, finishing only third, behind winners China and Ghana, who set season best times of 37.85 and 38.09 respectively.

Kenya’s team was set on its way to the new national record by Mark Odhiambo, who ran the opening leg, before passing it out to Ronald Kiprono Koech in the second stint.

Meshack Babu was third to go with the baton, leaving the anchor leg to Omanyala, who briefly threatened the first two automatic places, only to fade off to third.

The team’s new time broke the previous national record of 38.35 seconds, which was set during last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou, China by the quartet of Omanyala, Babu, Steve Onyango Odhiambo, and Boniface Mweresa.

Elsewhere in the men’s 4x400m qualifiers, a fall in the third-leg saw Kenya miss out on a World Championship slot, after finishing sixth in the first heat.

Also looking to finish in the top two places, Kenya, who were led by Dennis Masika and Danson Kibet for the opening two legs, were a dealt a big blow when Erastus Mbaluka fell during the first phase of his run, leaving Kevin Kipkorir a huge mountain to climb in the anchor-leg.

The team would cross the finish line over five seconds behind Germany in fifth, clocking 3:07.71.

The women’s 4x400m team could also not get through their qualifiers, but made a better effort, as they clocked a season best time of 3:32.24 to finish in fourth place.

The team was led by the quartet of Lanoline Aoko, Hellen Syombua, Margaret Naserian and Mourine Nanjala.

In the mixed 4x100m, Kenya’s team of Moses Onyango Wasike, Milcent Ndoro, Dennis Mwai and Eunice Kadogo could only finish sixth in heat one, in a time of 41.84.

The quartet on Saturday had given Kenyans hope after clocking a new national record of 41.38 in their heat.