NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – Kenyan teams failed to land Olympic Games qualification after they came short of making it into the finals of their various events on the opening day of the World Athletics Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.
The top two teams in each of the heats in the various events progressed to the final and were guaranteed a place at the Paris Games in the summer, but none of the Kenyan sides managed to attain qualification.
The 4x100m team that was anchored by Ferdinand Omanyala finished last in their heat, timing 39.38 in a race won by Japan, while China was second, both making the final and qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Also in the Kenyan team were Hesbon Ochieng, Mark Otieno and Meshack Babu.
However, the team will have a second chance of qualification on the second and final day of the showpiece, with teams getting an additional round of qualification where once again, the top two teams will earn tickets to Paris.
The 4x400m team, anchored by David Kapirante were fifth in their heat, finishing in 3:03.29. The team also had Wiseman Were and Boniface Mweresa, who are heading to Paris in their individual distances, as well as Brian Onyari.
The race was won by Italy, while Great Britain was second, both earning slots to Paris.
The mixed relays team of Kennedy Kimeu, Mercy Chebet, Kevin Kipkorir and Maureen Thomas also finished last in their heat, clocking 3:19.90, a race won by Ireland while Belgium was second, with both earning Paris slots.
The finals of all the events will be staged early Monday morning.
Teams qualified for Paris
Women’s 4x100m
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Netherlands, Poland, United States
Men’s 4x100m
Canada, China, France, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, United States
Women’s 4x400m
Canada, France, Great Britain & NI, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, United States
Men’s 4x400m
Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, South Africa
Mixed 4x400m
Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, United States
