Athletics: Impressive Ferguson and Otieno dominate AK relays meeting

AK official preparing for AK trials second series at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, Jan 23, 2020. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

World 800m bronze medalist Ferguson Rotich and national 100m champion Mark Otieno displayed impressive performances at the second leg of Athletics Kenya relays series at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.

The three-leg meetings started on January 9, in Nairobi with the second edition held yesterday while the third leg will be held on February 6 at the same venue.

The weekend relay meets will culminate in the national trials on March 26 and 27 where a team will be picked to represent Kenya in Silesia, Poland on May 1-2.

The sprinters are using the relay meetings to raise their standards as well as gain valuable experience and fitness ahead of the World Relays Championships and 2020 Olympic Games later in the year.

Ferguson clocked 48.68 to win the men’s 400m ahead of Vincent Kosgei who returned 49.00 seconds in second position. Geoffrey Kapelo closed the podium with 49.40

400m hurdles specialist Haron Koech (47.85) reigned supreme in his heats followed by his close challenger Edward Ngunjiru (49.41). John Koshen was third in 50.06 seconds.

"This is my first track competition, I wanted to test my speed endurance, I am satisfied with the results. Next week, I will go back to my specialty,” Ferguson said.