Focus shifts to Tokyo meet after Kenya's relay teams book slots
Athletics
By
Stephen Rutto
| May 13, 2025
(L-R) Kenya's Mercy Adongo Oketch, Mercy Chebet, David Sanayek Kapirante and Brian Onyari Tinega after winning third place in the mixed's 4x400m relay final of the World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25. May 11, 2025. [AFP]
Kenyan sprinters might have not powered to gold medals at the 2025 World Relays Championships which came to a close on Sunday in Guangzhou, China.
But they sprinted to Tokyo World Championships (September 13-21) slots, qualifying in the men's 4x100m, men's 4x400m and mixed 4x400m.
The teams will be looking to join the league of legendary sprinters such as Charles Asati, Julius Sang, Robert Ouko and Munyoro Nyamau, who pulled a huge surprise in winning the 4x400m at the 1972 Olympic Games.
Competing in the second heat at the final day on Sunday, the men's 4x100m anchored by Africa's fastest 100m man Ferdinand Omanyala proved that they were in Guangzhou for serious business.
The quartet of Omanyala, Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu and Steve Odhiambo made their intentions of booking a slot to Tokyo25 known when they stormed to a second place behind Belgium in heat 2.
With 38.51, the 4x100m Kenyan squad secured an automatic qualification and will be ready to battle for a medal alongside countries that have dominated relay events at the World Championships.
In the men's 4x100m, Kenya will be facing the world's top sprinters.
South Africa and Ghana are some of the African nations that will, alongside Kenya, be facing dominant forces in Tokyo.
Sprint sensation Akani Simbine, who anchored his nation to a relay silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and become the first South African man to win a World Indoor medal in March, just like Omanyala, will be leading their teams to glory in 4x100m at the international showpiece in September.
Omanyala said the qualification has offered Kenyan sprinters the stage to shine in a global arena.
He said he considered the qualification to represent the country in Tokyo a resounding achievement for Kenya.
"The joy that comes with being part of history. The men's 4x100m will be fielded for the first time in the history of the World Championships. A chance for our Kenyan sprinters to shine at a global stage. Thank you, team," Omanyala said on Sunday.
The 4x400m mixed relay quartet of Kevin Kipkorir, Mercy Chebet, David Sanayek and Mercy Oketch also secured their ticket to Tokyo after a third place, and in the process recorded a season best of 3:13.41.
The mixed relay team finished behind Belgium and Australia and will be eyeing history in Tokyo.
A similar feat was achieved by the men's 4x400m team of Zablon Ekwam, Boniface Mweresa, Brian Tinega and Kevin Kipkorir, who finished second behind France in heat 4, timing 3:00.88 to automatically qualify for Tokyo.
They will be facing USA, South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Great Britain and Portugal, among others.