Kenya relay team eager to build on Guangzhou performance

After wrapping up good performances at the World Athletics Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, on Sunday with a commendable performance, the Kenyan team shifts focus to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo in September.

Three out of the four teams that Kenya had sent for the World Relays booked their slots for the Tokyo World Championships.

The 4x100m men's team, men's 4x400m and mixed 4x400m all punched their tickets to Tokyo-with the mixed relay quartet of David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet, Brian Tinega and Mercy Aoko capping it with a bronze medal in the finals.

The 4x100m team made history as the first Kenyan side in that discipline to qualify for the World Championships.

They further clocked a blistering 38.35 in the heats to finish third and secure a new national record.

The Kenyan squad arrived back yesterday after entering the global sprints conversation with the World Relays display, with Athletics Kenya now planning specialised programmes for the sprint team.

"AK will give you all the support necessary as we focus on Tokyo World Championships. The performance in China has opened up conversations around sprints, we must utilise this performance and make it even better. AK will have this team go for specialise training in Bahamas before heading to Tokyo. We want you to remain focused and maintain discipline," said Barnaba Korir, AK executive member.

The captain and top sprinter Boniface Mweresa echoed Korir's sentiments, saying they need to remain focused.

"We have achieved something big, especially in the 4x100m, 4x400m men, and mixed relay," Mweresa said.

"Now the real work begins. We must push hard in training, perfect our baton exchanges, and ensure every athlete is running sub-10.1 seconds in the 4x100m and in the 4x400m has more athletes clocking 44 seconds."

Team manager Kennedy Tanui noted that Kenya's performance is a clear message that the country is ready to wrestle with the global top guns in sprints.

"From a country not known for sprinting, this performance announces our arrival on the global sprinting map. The world should now take notice," said Tanui.

Tanui further expressed his satisfaction with the relay team's performance, noting that they were able to surpass all their expectations.

"As the team manager, I am satisfied with the performance of the team. First and foremost, we broke all the national records, which was the biggest achievement," Tanui said.

"Three out of the four teams that went to China qualified for the World Championships with one of the best performances achieved by any relay team in the country; we surpassed expectations, and it was one of the best outings."

Kenya finished joint ninth alongside Botswana with one bronze in the World Relays.

South Africa topped the global medal table with two gold and a bronze medal, followed by USA with a gold and two silver medals, while Spain was third with a gold and a bronze.