Rotich in as Kenyas team for World Relays is selected

The national team for the World Relay Championship slated for May in Yokohama, Japan has been selected at the Lornah Kiplagat Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The trials were the culmination of the three Athletics Kenya (AK) relay series held in the build up to the Saturday event that brough together more than 100 athletes who earned invitation from AK going by their performances in the meets.

Kenya will field a team in the newly introduced 2x2x400m race where Ferguson Rotich, Collins Kipruto, Eglay Nalianya and Emily Cherotich will be carrying Kenyan hopes in the inaugural event.

The four athletes earned the slots having finished as the best two in the 800m race.

Rotich won the race in 1:45.40 ahead of Collins Kipruto (1:46.20) and Cornelius Tuwei (1:46.45).

The 29 year old who won gold for Kenya in 4x800m race in 2014 said he is using the relays in preparation for the new Diamond League season set to kick off next month.

“The relay series has been a good build up for the Diamond League,” said Rotich.

In the women 800m race, Nalianya stormed to victory in 2:02.29 with Cherotich coming in second in 2:04.25.

Freshia Mwangi of Kenya Police clocked 12.28 in the women 100m final as Diana Chebet also of Police clocked 12.45 to finish second as Prison’s Elizabeth Nekesa came in third in 12.67.

With Doreen Waka having finished fourth in 12.72 the quarter will now form a team for the 4x100m women.

In the men’s 100m first-rising Elijah Mathew of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) once again proved to be a force to be reckoned when he raced to 10.65 a second ahead of Stephen Baraza of Prisons while KDF duo of Samuel Chege and Walter Omenga closed in on the 4x100m men’s team.

Millicent Ndoro of Police ran the show in the women 200m clocking 23.85 with her compatriot Joan Cherono coming in second in 24.20 as Eunice Kadogo settled for the third spot in 24.31.

Prison’s Nevian Michira was fourth in 24.86 and consequently making the 4x200m women team.

In the corresponding men’s race, Mike Mokamba of KDF won the race in 20.90 ahead of Samuel Chege also of KDF (21.02) and Prisons Dan Kiviasi (21.08).

The trio will now be joined by Mark Otieno and Mark Kangethe in the men’s 4x200m race.

Speaking after the race, Mokamba is optimistic of Kenya’s chances at the global championships despite the high competition that is expected.

“In this race (4x200m) we have been doing well, like in 2017 we finished fifth so I can say that we are good to go. It is only about teamwork, ” said Mokamba.

Alex Sampao, Collins Omae, Alphas Kishoiyan, Joseph Sanare and Kenneth Kimeu will represent Kenya in the 4x400m race although the team might be subjected to a qualification race after IAAF failed to recognise the times at the African Championships held last year in Asaba, Nigeria.

In the women front, Maureen Thomas, Gladys Nthenya, Evangeline Makena and Veronica Mutua will fly Kenyan flag in the 4x400m event.

Elsewhere the duo of Jared Momanyi and Aron Koech -who members of the team that clinched gold in 4x400m in Asaba- will team up with Hellen Syombua and Maximilla Imali in the 4x400m mixed relay race.

AK senior Vice President in charge of Competitions Paul Mutwii is certain they have selected a good team for the global championships.

“The event has been very successful because we have even surpassed the qualification times set by IAAF in some races. The team will thereafter head to a residential training camp before departing for Japan in May 6,” said Mutwii

Selected Team

4x100m men
Elijah Mathew
Stephen Baraza
Walter Moenga
Michael Ngugi

4x100m women
Freshia Mwangi
Diana Chebet
Elizabeth Nekesa
Doreen Waka

4x200m men
Mike Mokamba
Samuel Chege
Dan Kiviasi
Mark Otieno
Mark Kang’ethe

4x200m women
Millicent Ndoro
Joan Cherono
Eunice Kadogo
Nevian Michira

4x400m men
Alex Sampao
Collins Omae
Alphas Kishoiyan
Joseph Sanare
Kenneth Kimeu

4x400m women
Maureen Thomas
Gladys Nthenya
Evangeline Makena
Veronica Mutua

4x400m mixed relay
Jared Momanyi
Aron Koech
Hellen Syombua
Maximilla Imali

2x2x400m mixed relay
Ferguson Rotich
Collins Kipruto
Eglay Nalianya
Emily Cherotich