Kenya men's 4×100m relay team seals World Athletics Championships slot
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 11.05.25. | 19:00
Omanyala called for support as he believes that the team has a lot to polish before heading to Tokyo
For the first time in over four decades, Kenya will be represented in the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships.
The quartet of Ferdinand Omanyala, Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu, and Steve Onyango made history on Sunday, 11 May by sealing a spot at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships during the final qualification round.
Despite falling short of automatic qualification in Saturday’s heats, where they clocked a national record time of 38.35 seconds, the team came back fired up for Sunday’s second round.
Knowing they needed a top-five finish to qualify, they delivered once more, finishing second behind Belgium in 38.51 seconds to earn a place in Tokyo.
The last time Kenya competed in the men’s 4x100m relay at the World Championships was in 1983, making this achievement a monumental comeback in sprint history for the nation.
“This was the best weekend. It’s going to be written in history that this is the team that made Kenya qualify for the first time in the 4x100m at a World Championship. Yesterday (Saturday), we ran a national record, it’s just that the team ahead of us was a bit lucky. But today we had to get into number two and qualify," said Omanyala after the race.
Omanyala, who ran the back stretch leg, teamed up with Mweresa on the start, Babu on the curve, with Onyango anchoring the team.
Together, they shattered Kenya’s previous national record of 39.28 seconds, set at the 2022 Africa Senior Championships in Mauritius.
The sprint star also used the moment to urge for more support.
“Now it’s down to business. I’m sure the country has seen this. We need support, financially and in terms of training camps. The World Championships will not be a walk in the park," he said.
For Mweresa, who ran the opening leg, the experience was brand new.
“This was my first time starting a 4x100m relay. It’s a kind of World Championship, so I wasn’t used to it. But I feel great now,” he said.
Meshack Babu echoed the excitement, stating that the team had to overcome nervousness for the slot to Tokyo.
“The race was good. At first we were tense, but it has come to pass. We were fighting to get a slot, and this is history for Kenya," he said.
Steve Onyango, who anchored the team, was equally happy to help the team qualify.
“I feel good. It was my first championship and I thank God because we performed very well," he said.
