OTIENO, MANANGOI STAR: Top names turn up in second leg of AK Relay Series

Mark Otieno wins men's 200mrace during the second leg of Athletics Kenya on March 4, 2017 at Nairobi West Prisons.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Mark Otieno continued his dominant performance as World silver medallist Elijah Manangoi and Ferguson Rotich headlined the second leg of the Athletics Kenya Relay Series at Nairobi West Prisons Grounds yesterday.

AK is using the series to prepare runners for the forthcoming invite-only trials on April 1. This will be used to select Kenya’s team to the third edition of IAAF World Relays Championships in Nassau, Bahamas on April 22 and 23.

Otieno clocked 20.8 seconds to win the men’s second semi-finals race while national champion Mike Mokamba won the other semi in 21.1 seconds.

In women’s race, youngster Damaris Akoth (25.3) won the race ahead of Mary Chepkoech (25.4) while Everline Makena (25.7) finished third.

The second leg of the Relay Series attracted a good number of elite runners with Manangoi who dropped from his specialty to take top honours in 800m first semis in a time of 1: 48.00 seconds while Ferguson Rotich (1:50.2) comfortably won the second semi.

“We have discussed with my coach the possibility of featuring in the relays in Bahamas championship and today my target was to run under 1:50 as part of my speed work which I managed to achieve.

“So, that means I will be available for World Relays,” Manangoi said.

Emily Cherotich registered her second win of the Series when she clocked 2:05.4 to edge out Eglay Nalianya (2.06.3) of Kenya Police Service in the women 800m race.

Miram Chepkemoi was third in 2.07.7. In 400m, Collins Omae displayed a homestretch sprint to win the first semifinal while Kenya Defence Force’s Joseph Porghisio won the second semi.

Lydia Jeruto won the women’s 400m finals ahead of Daisy Komen while Anastasia Kanini closed the podium places.

Meanwhile, with the passing of the deadline for preliminary entries, the World Relays is set to be the biggest edition of the event so far, adds IAAF.

Based on the preliminary entry figures, more than 700 athletes from 42 nations have expressed an interest in competing in Nassau.

Seven of those nations – Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Czech Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, India, and South Africa – will be making their IAAF World Relays debut.

Even with the expected slight drop in figures, the entries for this year’s World Relays should surpass the first two editions.

The inaugural World Relays in 2014 welcomed 576 athletes, while 669 athletes competed in Nassau in 2015.

The 2017 programme will consist of five events over four relay disciplines: the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m for both men and women, and a mixed 4x400m which will cap the competition’s second day.