Team Kenya's sprint stars confident ahead of World Relays in Gaberone
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 29.04.26. | 07:21
The country will field five relay teams: the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the men's and women's 4x400m squads, and the men's 4x100m team
Kenya's fastest sprinters are set to compete at the World Athletics Relays scheduled for Saturday, 2 and Sunday, 3 May in Gaborone, Botswana.
The country will look to be amongst 12 federations that will automatically secure their spots for the 2027 Beijing World Athletics Championships in each of the six events in Gaborone.
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On the first day of the event, the top two teams in each of the four heats will advance to the next day's finals, while also securing their qualification for next year's global championships.
In the finals on day two, teams will compete for prize money and have the chance to obtain preferential World Championships lane seeding positions.
Last year, Kenya secured bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay and qualified the men's 4x100m team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships during the 2025 World Athletics Relays held in Guangzhou, China, and will be keen to improve on that performance.
Set to jet out on Wednesday, 29 April, Team Kenya is led by Africa's 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala and the in-form Mercy Oketch, fresh from setting a national record in the 300m at Simbine Classic on Tuesday, 28 April in South Africa.
In Gaborone, Kenya will field five relay teams: the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the men's and women's 4x400m squads, and the men's 4x100m team.
Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei expressed strong confidence in the team's readiness, stating that the athletes are well-prepared and in high spirits.
"We hope and believe that the athletes will perform well. They are prepared and motivated. We wish them all the best as they go out to represent the country," said Tuwei.
Omanyala, alongside Ronald Koech, former national champion Mark Otieno, and Moses Wasike, are in for the 4x100m and mixed events.
Joining them in the short relay pool are Elkana Kiprotich, Dennis Mwai, Meshack Babu, Samuel Chege, and Steve Odhiambo, while the women’s speed is anchored by Millicent Ndoro, Diana Aoko, and Eunice Kadogo.
The 4x400m men’s contingent is headlined by Kelvin Kiprotich, Dennis Masika, George Mutinda, and Kevin Kipkorir, with additional support from Danson Kibet, Erick Kimathi, Brian Tinega, Kipkorir Rotich, Erastus Mbaluka, and Allan Kipyego.
On the women’s side, the 400m specialists include Mercy Chebet, Hellen Syombua, Maureen Nanjala, and Anne Mbatha, who are joined by Margaret Naserian, Mercy Adongo, and Gladys Muthoni.
Purity Chepkoech Joy and Lanoline Aoko round out the female roster, ensuring strong options for both the single-gender and mixed 4x400m relay categories.