Kenya to send a team for 4x400m world relay

It’s a sigh of relief for the men 4X400m team after they were given an opportunity to compete at the IAAF World Relay in Nassau, Bahamas on April 22 and 23.

The 4X400m team had initially failed to qualify after South Africa and Botswana failed to show up for the IAAF permit, National Trials held April 1st at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.

In his second outing at the annual event, two-time African 4X400  silver medalist Alphas Leken Kishoyan will lead All- Africa Games 400m silver medalist Boniface Ontuga Mweresa, Geoffrey Kiprotich and  Collins Omae in the hunt for the elusive golden baton.

“They confirmed for us on Saturday that they are going to race. We are going double up in various events since most of us had already entered in others.  In Durban we missed with a microsecond and failed to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics Games. I hope in Bahamas we shall make it to the finals and qualify for the IAAF World Championships in August. ” Said Kishoyan.

Speaking at Kasarani, Head Coach George Macharia was delighted that the international athletics governing body IAAF honored their request to field the team adding that they have a lot of potential to reach the finals unlike in the previous editions.

“We are happy that we shall have the men’s team there. We only had the ladies making their debut this year. The IAAF agreed because Kenya is a know athletics power house. When we got the confirmation on Saturday, they asked us to send the names of the athletes who will be participating, we picked the male athletes who will be participating in the mixed 4X400m relay, that is; Kishoyan, Mweresa and Kiprotich then Omae will also join them and still participate in the 4X200m event.” Said Macharia.

Kenya will now send a total of seven teams for the two day competition which will consist of five events including the 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m for both men and women, and a mix 4X400m to cream the event.