Team Kenya had a successful outing at the 2025 World Relays Championships, qualifying three of the four enlisted teams to the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September. Kenya had the men and women’s 4x400m, men’s 4x100m and 4x400m mixed relays teams.
Of the four, only the women’s 4x400m team of Esther Mbagari, Mercy Chebet, Lanoline Aoko and Mercy Oketch, missed out on a ticket to Tokyo despite setting a new national record of 3:28.20. The 4x400m mixed relay team of David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet, Brian Tinega and Mercy Aoko, who secured qualification on Saturday, ran a season’s best time of 3:13.10 to grab a bronze medal, Kenya’s only podium finish at the championships.
After narrowly missing out on qualification in Saturday’s Round One, the 4x100m quartet of Boniface Mweresa, Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack babu and Steve Odhiambo returned to seal their ticket to Tokyo with a second-place finish in Heat 2 of Round Two of the qualifiers, timing 38.51. In the final of the 4x400m final, Kenya ranked fifth with a national record of 2:59.29 to cement their status among the elites, having sealed their slot to Tokyo in Saturday’s qualification round.
Coach Stanley Towet, team manager Kennedy Tanui, Africa’s fastest man, Omanyala, and upcoming star, Oketch, revelled in Kenya’s success but observed the journey has just started. “These athletes have worked hard and I am grateful that three of our four teams have qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo,” said Towet. “In addition, we’ve broken national records in all the events. This means our preparations in Nairobi were thorough.”
“I could tell from the last weekend meeting at Ulinzi Sports Complex that this team will deliver, especially after posting some world leading times.” “There has been a sense of togetherness within the team and I am thankful to all who put their efforts in helping this team to success,” he added.
“The athletes were diligent, embracing the training programme we drafted and the results are there for all to see. I would like to see this team maintained for the World Championships in Tokyo since they have done a tremendous job.”
“This is a great achievement for me and the rest of the officials (coaches Simon Riga and Thomas Musembi, chaperone Catherine Kagwiria, Tanui and physiotherapist Edwin Kiptoo). Every one of them played their roles with dedication.”
However, Towet observed that Guangzhou is done and dusted and focus should now turn to Tokyo. “I hope to see this team facilitated in training, especially with gym equipment. This is an area we have had a problem with. We had limited gym time in the run-up to the World Relays,” said.
Tanui added: “History has been re-written here after all the national records in the four races we enlisted for were broken. This is our biggest achievement ever, qualifying three relay teams to a World Championship.” “The real journey to the World Championships begins now. We request the ministry (of sports) and Athletics Kenya to give this team adequate support in terms of facilities and exposure. Facilities are key, whether at home or abroad. The exposure will help them qualify for their individual events.”
Omanyala wants the government and AK to ramp up investment in sprints.
“We have had a very good weekend at the World Relays. We are part of history now. It’s going to be written in the history books that this is the first Kenyan 4x100m team to qualify for a World Championship,” Omanyala said.
“Now it’s getting down to business (in training). I am sure the whole country has seen (what we can do) and they (government and AK) need to support our preparations (for Tokyo). We need a proper training camp since the World Championships will not be a walk in the park,” he noted.
“This is just the beginning, more things are coming,” added Oketch, who was elated to debut at the world stage, especially against sprinting powerhouses like the USA. “The race was very interesting. I have never run such a race in my life. I thank God. Running against the USA, some of the fastest athletes in the world, is interesting.”
Kenya wrapped up the championships joint ninth alongside Botswana with one medal each, bronze. South Africa topped the standings with two gold and a bronze medal, followed by USA (1,2,0) and Spain (1,1,0). Others were Canada (1,0,1), Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1,0,1), Jamaica (0,1,1), Australia (0,1,0) and Belgium (0,1,0).
Team Kenya will embark on their return journey Monday evening to touch down at the JKIA aboard flight QR1335 on Tuesday, 13th May at 6:40 am.
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