Relay battalion post mixed results but leave Gaborone with promise and pace

George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Mercy Chebet and Kevin Tonui at the World Relays/ HANDOUT 

Team Kenya wrapped up their World Relays Championship campaign in Gaborone, Botswana, with mixed fortunes but plenty of encouragement after storming to an African record and a national mark on the global stage.

On Saturday, Kenya’s 4x400m mixed relay quartet of George Mutinda, Mercy Oketch, Kelvin Tonui and Mercy Chebet blazed to a 3:09.87 second-place finish, smashing the African record.

Their electrifying run erased the previous continental mark of 3:11.16 set by South Africa in 2025.

In Heat Three, Kenya crossed the line second behind Great Britain, who clocked a world-leading 3:09.69, while Italy completed the top three in 3:10.60. Apart from rewriting the African record books, the performance also sealed Kenya’s ticket to the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, next year. Oketch said the statement run in Botswana proved the mixed relay team is ready to challenge for global honours.

“We were well prepared for this, and especially in the mixed relay, we mean business,” said Oketch.

The 23-year-old is no stranger to record-breaking performances. She currently holds the Kenyan women’s 400m record at 50.14 seconds, set last year. She also owns the indoor 400m national best after clocking 51.53 seconds at the Metz Meeting earlier this year. Oketch admitted that chasing records has become second nature to her. “I’m always after records. I’m very happy. Running an African record is so nice,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mutinda, who launched Kenya’s charge from the opening leg, said sticking to the race plan ensured smooth baton exchanges and a historic result. “The race was very competitive, but I was able to control the pressure and run my race,” said Mutinda.

However, in Sunday’s final, the Kenyan quartet narrowly missed the global podium, finishing fourth in 3:09.93. The USA stormed to gold in a championship record 3:07.47, with Jamaica taking silver in 3:08.24 and Great Britain settling for bronze in 3:09.84.

Meanwhile, the men’s 4x100m team of Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, Mark Otieno, Ronald Koech and Meshack Babu clocked a national record 38.27 to finish third in Heat One of the repechage on Sunday, narrowly missing out on a berth to Beijing. China won the race in 37.85, with Ghana second in 38.09.

On the opening day, the Kenyan quartet had posted 38.50 for fifth place in Heat Three, forcing them into the repechage round in pursuit of a World Championships slot. Despite missing the qualification, Babu welcomed the national record.

“Even if we did not get a qualification, I am glad we set a national record,” he said. Omanyala also pointed to a clear improvement from the first day of competition.

“That was a good run. I am glad we did better than yesterday. We were sluggish yesterday, and our exchanges were not so good,” said Omanyala.

Elsewhere, the women’s 4x400m quartet of Lanoline Aoko, Hellen Syombua, Margaret Naserian and Moureen Nanjala also fell short of Beijing qualification after clocking a season’s best 3:32.24 for fourth place in Heat One of the repechage rounds.

Their male counterparts also missed out, posting 3:07.71 for sixth place in Heat One. The mixed 4x100m squad likewise failed to advance after returning 41.84 for sixth place in the repechage round.