ATHLETICS Kenya (AK) have invited 53 sprinters to battle for slots in the national relay teams during the World Relays trials set for this Saturday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Kenya has already qualified four relay squads—men’s 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, women’s 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m—for the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, slated for May 10–11.
Speaking at Riadha House on Wednesday, AK Senior Vice President Paul Mutwii said the selection was based on recent form and compliance with World Athletics antidoping protocols.
“Our relay teams have to be composed of the best sprinters in the country to compete in the events we have secured qualification. We will choose the athletes who have been attending our weekend meets and have produced exceptional performances. The athletes must also have met World Athletics requirements, which require proper testing for athletes going to any major competition,” Mutwii said.
Saturday’s trials will feature the 100m and 400m races for both men and women.
The top performers will earn places in the respective relay teams, with final selections combining both automatic qualifiers and panel decisions.
The men’s 4x100m team will consist of six athletes—four earning automatic spots by finishing top in the final, with two additional names selected based on form and World rankings. In the 4x400m (men and women), eight athletes will be named in each category and the same athletes will serve in the mixed 4x400m relay pool.
The first six across the line in the trials will qualify automatically, with selectors filling the final two spots. The women’s 100m line-up features nine sprinters, led by former national champion Eunice Kadogo, who boasts the fastest time (11.50) set at the AK weekend meet in Thika.
The men’s 100m boasts a stacked field of 19, including Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, his brother Isaac Omurwa and Dennis Mwai of Utawala Stars Sprint Club—all combining for the top time in the list, 10.20 set in Thika.
However, Omanyala will not feature since he’s set to race at the FNB Botswana Grand Prix on the same day. His selection will depend on the time he registers in Gaborone.
“Omanyala will be competing in Botswana during the trials and his performance there will guide our selection,” Mutwii confirmed.
The women’s 400m field includes 10 athletes, with Mercy Oketch leading the pack after posting 54.30 in Thika.
Allan Kipyego headlines a list of 15 entrants in the men’s 400m, with a time of 46.20 from Thika. Meanwhile, AK have effected changes to the programme.
“There will be no prize money for the athletes during the trials. We also had several exhibition events lined up on the day of the trials, but unfortunately, we will not be having the javelin as we have been instructed not to tamper with the grass at Nyayo, which will be used for the Chan,” he noted.
