Tough day for Kenya’s men’s relay teams in Tokyo

In the 4x400m relay, Kenya lined up in Heat 1 with national 400m champion George Mutinda setting the pace, followed by David Sanayek Kapirante, Dennis Masika Mulongo, and Kevin Kipkorir. Despite a strong start, the quartet faded in the closing stages, finishing fourth in their heat and 10th overall with a time of 3:00.76.

The qualification format admitted the first three teams from each heat plus the next two fastest times. Botswana (2:57.68), Belgium (2:57.98), Great Britain & Northern Ireland (2:58.11), and South Africa (2:58.81) were among the top qualifiers. Kenya narrowly missed a qualifying slot but finished ahead of powerhouse United States, which clocked 3:01.06 for sixth in the same heat.

It was an equally tough test in the men’s 4x100m relay. Without African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala and reigning Africa U-20 champion Clinton Ayuvi, Kenya’s team of Commonwealth Bronze medalist Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu, and Steve Onyango clocked 38.56 seconds, placing sixth in their heat and 12th overall. Experience proved decisive as seasoned sprint nations dominated the race.

Kenya’s appearance in the 4x100m relay was historic nonetheless. For the first time in more than four decades, the country fielded a men’s team at the World Championships. The sprinters earned their Tokyo ticket earlier this year after a gutsy performance in the final qualification round on May 11. They set a national record of 38.35 seconds and finished second behind Belgium to secure their spot.

Despite the setbacks, the double relay participation marked a significant milestone for Kenya’s sprint program, traditionally known for distance running. The teams’ presence on the global stage, particularly with the 4x400m squad outpacing the Americans in their heat, highlights the nation’s growing depth in sprint events and provides valuable experience for future competitions.