Athletics Kenya invites team of 83 for the World Relay Trials at Nyayo

By Antynet Ford

Africa’s fastest man and Commonwealth 100 meters Champion Ferdinand Omanyala will be headlining a team of 83 athletes invited by the Athletics Kenya (AK) for trials on Saturday for the selection of the World Athletics Relay.

Speedsters Hesbon Ochieng, three-time national 100m champion Mark Otieno, Omanyala’ s young brother Isaac Omurwa and Mike Mokamba will also be in the mix for a place in Team Kenya.

The women’s roster has world 800 meters champion Mary Moraa, sprinter Joan Cherono, seasoned Milicent Ndoro among others.

The scheduled events include the 4x100m and 4x400m relays for both men and women, as well as the 4x400m Mixed Relay.

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The athletics governing body stated that only the invited athletes will compete at Nyayo to form Kenya’s team for the May 4-5 global event to be held in Nassau, Bahamas.

AK also disclosed that the relay teams will compete against invited foreign teams from Uganda and Tanzania during the trials.

Kenya is set use the World Athletics Relay as a pathway to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for the 4x100m relay team.

With Omanyala alongside Otieno in the 4x100m the country seeks to enhance the relay time for the Olympics qualification.

Kenya currently ranks 27th in the men’s 4x100m, 15th in the men’s 4x400m, and 20th in the mixed relay, with the women’s 4x400m at 25th place.

To secure a spot in the Olympics, Kenya must step up during the World Athletics Relay where only the top 14 teams will qualify for the Paris Games.