Team Kenya ready to dig deep for glory at the World Relays

The four will descend the Guangdong Olympic Stadium in Heat Four at 2:01pm Kenya time, after putting final touches to their preparations on Friday afternoon, perfecting baton flow and tactics.

They are drawn in lane six against powerhouses the USA, South Africa, Australia and Nigeria.

Kipkorir feels all is set for the task ahead, hoping to execute what he learnt in camp and repay the faith of the selectors. “I am very ready and I believe in myself. I have been given a task and I must deliver,” he said. It was similar sentiments from co-captain Esther Mbagari. “I am all set,” she said.

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, who was in the advance team in China where he competed at the Xiamen and Shanghai Diamond Leagues, is among the quartet of team captain Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu and Steve Onyango tasked to hunt glory in the men’s 4x100m squad, competing in Heat Two at 3:03 pm.

Omanyala and co. will be in lane five against giants Jamaica, Germany, Belgium, South Africa, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.

The women’s 4x400m relay team—featuring Mercy Oketch, Esther Mbagari, Mercy Chebet and Vanice Kerubo — will wrap up Kenya’s Day One campaign in Heat Three at 4:13 pm.

They start from the wide lane nine against Germany, Jamaica, Poland, Ireland and South Africa.

The men’s 4x400m team will launch their bid on Sunday, with the finals of all the events also scheduled for the same day.

The World Relays double up as a qualifier for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo where the top 14 teams will earn automatic tickets, while two additional slots will be awarded based on world rankings.

Zablon Ekwam of 4x400m, who missed the 2024 edition in Bahamas through illness, despite travelling to the Caribbean country, is equally enthusiastic about their chances.

“All is set and we are ready for tomorrow,” he said. “There’s nothing to fix at this last moment. This is my third world championship, and my dream is to represent the country well and qualify for the World Championships (in Tokyo, Japan, in September),” said Ekwam.

“Medals and other stuff come after. None of them (opponents) is winning. When the Kenyans turn the bend, they will be depressed.”

“We stayed in the camp in a manner that we have never done before. Everyone was cooperative. Now it’s all about executing what we have been taught. All we do is pray for good health come tomorrow and probably, we will be celebrating at the end of the day,” he added.

Ekwam hopes to redeem himself after an unsuccessful Olympic debut in Paris, France, last year.

“The Olympics came with setbacks after I got injured. However, I came to learn that injury is part of the game and when they happen, it’s all about recovery and coming back stronger. This being my first major championship since, it forms part of my ‘coming back stronger’ as I step on the blocks to lead the 4x400m team towards victory.”

Day One Schedule

Mixed 4x100m Relay Heats 2:01 pm

Mixed 4x400m Relay World Championships Qualifying Round One 2:22 pm

Women’s 4x100m Relay World Championships Qualifying Round One 3:03 pm

Men’s 4x100m Relay World Championships Qualifying Round One 3:25 pm

Women’s 4x400m Relay World Championships Qualifying Round One 3:53 pm

Men’s 4x400m Relay World Championships Qualifying Round One 4:23 pm