Kenya's chase for relays medal fails to takeoff as expected

Samwel Imeta in action during 4x100m relays at the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham, UK, yesterday. Inset: Boniface Mweresa looks stunned at the end of men's 400m final. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

What was expected to be a smooth sailing for Kenya in men's 4x100m relay final at the Commonwealth Games yesterday ended in total disarray for the Kenyans.

Kenya's hopes of a first ever Club Games medal were dashed in quite an unfortunate manner at the back-straight between Samwel Imeta and Dan Kiviasi. With that blunder, it ended the country's hunt for that rare medal.

The Kenyan's quartet of Ferdinand Omanyala, Dan Kiviasi, Hezbon Ochieng and Samuel Imeta were hoping to deliver history and add on to the African title they won in Mauritius in May.
Imeta executed the 100m take off quite fast, but he could not handover the baton in the first changeover with Kiviasi, thus exiting the event as Mike Mokamba, in the third exchange and

Ferdinand Omanyala, who was at anchor leg, remained rooted in disbelief.

England stormed to victory in 38.35 as Trinidad and Tobago secured the second place for silver in 38.70secs, while Nigeria were third for bronze in 38.81.

Meanwhile, Boniface Mweresa narrowly missed out on podium finish in men's 400m final as he ran out of gas in the final 10 metres to finish fourth in an impressive personal best of 44.96.
Zambia's Muzala Samukonga topped the finals in a new Personal Best time of 44.66secs, edging out Englishman Mathew Hudson-Smith who was second in 44.81secs. Jonathan Jones from Barbados clocked 44.89secs for bronze to edge out the Kenyan.

A disappointed Mweresa will have to take home his new personal best
"I am disappointed. I wanted a medal from these Games but emerging with a personal best is something good as well. I will have to settle for that," said Mweresa after the race.

On Saturday night, World 800 metres bronze medallist Mary Moraa delivered a brilliant performance to win her speciality ahead of England's Keely Hodkingson and Scotland's Laura Muir.
Moraa crossed the line 1:57.07 for gold with Hodgkinson settling for silver in 1:57.40 while Muir was third in 1:57.87.
"I was excited with the victory considering it was a strong field,"said Moraa.