WHAT A FLOP! Kenyan athletes disappointed by poor show in World Relay Championships

Kenyan athletes have expressed their disappointment following the relays team’s dismal performance in the just-concluded second edition of the IAAF World Relays, in Nassau Bahamas.

Kenya, who finished third with four medals in the inaugural event last, dropped to seventh position after winning only two medals (silver in men’s and women’s distance medley relays) in a competition that was marred by baton exchange mishaps and zone violations.

Ferguson Rotich, who led the men’s team to the second spot behind USA (broke the world record with 9:15.50), couldn’t hide his frustrations, blaming inexperience for the disastrous performance.

“It was really disappointing and inexperience really cost us. Most of the guys were running at an international competition for the first time. We felt the absence of our star athletes because whenever they are in the team, they push the rest,” said Rotich, who was in the 4x800m team that won a gold medal in last year’s event.

SHARED SIMILAR VIEWS

“But it is high time we (athletes) became patriotic and defended our country. There is no need of boycotting such competitions,” he added.

His sentiments were echoed by 1500m Olympics Champion Asbel Kiprop, who skipped the last weekend’s event at the Atlantic Archipelago. Kiprop, who had been included in the team to compete in the newly innovated distance medley relays, commented on Facebook: “A less experienced team was sent to Bahamas.”

He shared the similar views with Hellen Obiri, who was in last year’s 1500x4 gold medal winning team.

“4x800 women number eight? Still I can’t believe this,” reacted Obiri on Facebook.

“I don’t understand what happens with us, when at home we perform well, but in an international competition it’s disastrous,” added Bernard Mweresa, a 4x400m sprinter whose team was disqualified despite finishing last.

Sheila Chesang, who was in the 4x800m women’s that finished last, said: “I can’t explain what happened, but the truth is I slid and twisted my ankle. I am just disappointed like any other person, but we hope to bounce back in our next competition.”