TOKYO2025: Kenya’s 4x400m relay team falls short of World Championships final
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 20.09.25. | 15:03
Despite their aggressive run, they finished fourth in Heat 1, just outside the automatic qualifying spots and short of the two fastest-loser places
Kenya’s men’s 4x400m relay team produced a spirited performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo but narrowly missed out on a place in the final after clocking 3:00.76 in their heat on Saturday, 20 September.
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The quartet of George Mutinda, David Sangaek Kapirante, Dennis Masika Mulongo, and Kevin Kipkorir kept fans on the edge of their seats as they battled seasoned global powerhouses.
Despite their aggressive run, they finished fourth in Heat 1, just outside the automatic qualifying spots and short of the two fastest-loser places.
South Africa, Qatar, and the Netherlands advanced directly from their heat, with the Dutch edging Kenya by just over half a second (3:00.23).
Behind the Kenyans, however, fell major names, including China (3:00.77), USA (3:01.06), France (3:01.64), and Zambia (3:01.71). This was proof of how fine the margins were at this level.
Kenya began strongly, with Mutinda and Kapirante delivering sharp opening splits to keep the team well-placed.
Mulongo’s composed third leg maintained pressure on the leading pack, setting the stage for Kipkorir’s determined anchor.
But in the final stretch, the Dutch, Qataris, and South Africans held firm, leaving Kenya just outside the qualification bubble.
Hopes of sneaking through on time quickly disappeared after a lightning-fast second heat. Botswana, powered by sprint prodigy Letsile Tebogo, stormed to victory in a blistering 2:57.68, the fastest time across the rounds.
Belgium (2:57.98) and Australia (2:58.60) secured automatic slots, while Great Britain & Northern Ireland (2:58.11) and Jamaica (2:59.13) took the two time-qualifier positions.
That left Kenya’s 3:00.76 outside the cut despite being faster than several other teams, including Portugal, Japan, and Brazil.
