Sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki believes Wiseman Were and Zablon Ekwam’s performance at Saturday's Kip Keino Classic will motivate Team Kenya at the World Relays Championships in the Bahamas on May 4-5.
Were and Ekwam qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. Were clocked 48.57 to win the 400m hurdles while Ekwam posted 44.69 to place fourth in the 400m.
The Olympic qualifying mark for the 400m hurdles is 48.70 while the 400m cut-off is 45.00.
“The performance from Were and Ekwam will boost the team's morale going to the Bahamas. It shows that the training camps are paying dividends,” Mwaniki noted.
On Wednesday, World Athletics released a list of 893 athletes from 54 countries who will participate in the World Relay Championships.
32 teams are entered for the men’s 4x100m and 30 for the women’s event. 32 teams will battle it out in the men’s 4x400m with 27 in the women’s event. 30 teams are entered in the mixed relay.
The championships will be a platform for team qualifications for the Paris Olympics.
“Our target for the World Relays is to qualify for Paris. We are yearning for a spot in the Olympics. There will, however, be a lot of tough teams to beat,” said Mwaniki.
Preparations for the Bahamas meet have been solid with the team set to depart between April 29 and 30.
“Preparations have been good. The athletes have been reporting to the training camps and the results are evident from the Kip Keino meet. We are scheduled to leave for the Bahamas between April 29 and 30,” noted Mwaniki.
The men's 4x100m team includes Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack Babu, Mike Mokamba, Hesborn Ochieng', Mark Otieno and Samuel Chege.The 4x400m features Boniface Mweresa, David Sanayek, Kelvin Kipkorir, Nathaniel Kipng’etich, Moitalel Mpoke and Brian Onyari.
The women's 4x400m team has Diana Chebet, Joan Cherono, Veronica Mutua, Jackline Nanjala, Rahab Wanjiru and Vanice Kerubo. The mixed relay team features Mary Moraa, Were, Ekwam, Kennedy Kimeu, Mercy Chebet and Maureen Thomas.
In a statement, World Athletics said: “Olympic qualifying places will be up for grabs on both days of action in the Bahamas. On the first day, the top two teams in each heat will advance to the final on day two, while also securing qualification for the Paris Olympics.”
“All other teams will compete on day two in the additional round where the top two teams in each heat will also qualify for the Olympics,” the statement from World Athletics read.
The final day will feature the athletes competing for lane positions in Paris.
“In the finals on day two, teams will compete for prize money and obtain Olympic lane seeding positions.”
Start lists will be published on May 3, while team line-ups will be confirmed nearer to the time of each race.
