Mark Otieno Delighted to represent Kenya in Bahamas despite disappointing performance
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 10.05.24. | 12:55
They will have to go through the tough route based on ranking during the qualification period that runs from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2024.
Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno expressed delight after representing Kenya in the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas from May 4–5.
Otieno was part of the 4 by 100m team, which also included Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala. They failed to qualify for the Olympics after managing fourth place. The Kenyan teams returned home empty-handed after failing to win a medal or secure Olympic qualification.
Despite the setback, the radiant sprinter noted that representing his country at the global championship was a dream come true.
Otieno is making slow but sure steps after returning to the track following an Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ban that resulted in his suspension from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, just moments before he was scheduled to compete in the 100m heats.
“We are sprinters, but this journey sure feels like a marathon. Didn't get the results we had hoped for, but I was just so happy and humbled to be at the World Relay Championships. I'm proud of our team. They gave it their all. Back to the drawing board and onto the next,” the inspirational sprinter offered.
Team Kenya featured in the mixed relays, men’s 4x100m, men’s 4x400m, and women’s 4x400m. After action on day one, three of the teams finished last and were hoping to redeem themselves on day two.
However, they were treated to a rough show after the mixed relay team finished last in their heat while the men’s 4 by 100m team came in fourth. The women’s 4 by 400m failed to sparkle to finish last, while their male counterparts managed a fourth place.
According to the World Athletics, the top two finishers in each heat secured a direct spot in the Olympics, forcing Kenya to be locked out.
However, all is not lost for the Kenyans. They will have to go through the tough route based on ranking during the qualification period that runs from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2024.
So far, a total of 70 teams have qualified for relay events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The first 40 qualified teams were confirmed on Saturday 4 and the final 30 on Sunday 5, following a second Olympic qualifying round for teams that missed out on day one.
Teams that qualified on Saturday also secured their spots for the respective World Relays finals on Sunday, when they raced for prize money and Olympic Lane seeding positions.
Qualified teams
Women’s 4x100m
Australia, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Men’s 4x100m
Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain & NI, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, United States
Women’s 4x400m
Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain & NI, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, United States
Men’s 4x400m
Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain & NI, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Mixed 4x400m
Bahamas, Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain & NI, Ireland, Jamaica, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States
