Rotich, Korir hand Kenya first of two medals at World Relays

World 800m bronze medalist, Ferguson Rotich ran a tactical race, in the 2x2x400m relay at the ongoing World Relays in Silesia to improve on Naomi Korir's third place finish in her second lap and clinch silver on the event.

The duo clocked 3:41.79 to finish second behind hosts Poland who clocked 3:40.92 to win gold as Slovenia sealed the podium in 3:41.95. 

Korir brought the button home in second place in the opening lap and Rotich maintained the pace. On her second lap, the youngster, Korir was, however, overtaken in the final 50m, exchanging the button in third place but Rotich managed to race past the Slovenian athlete and maintain second place for silver. 

In a race that Kenya was already assured of a medal, baring a disqualification, the quartet of Priscilla Tabunda, Michael Musyoka, Nusra Rukia and Wiseman Were clocked 59.89 for bronze in the mixed shuttle hurdles relay behind Germany and Poland who bagged gold and silver respectively.

Kenya's hopes of qualifying teams for the Tokyo Olympics in the men’s and women’s 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m events were crushed as the team's bowed out at the preliminary stages of the event.

Gladys Musyoki, Veronica Mutua, Sylvia Chesebe and Mary Moraa placed fourth in the second heat of the 4x400m women while Stanley Kieti, William Rayian, David Sanayek and Kevin Kiprotich finished fifth in the first heat of the men's race. 

The mixed 4x400m team anchored by Jared Momanyi, Joan Cherono, Moraa and Aron Koech were disqualified. Moraa, who was the third athlete off the blocks, fell at the finish line dropping the button in the exchange which led to the team's disqualification. 

Kenya will be hoping to add to her medal count on Sunday when the Mark Otieno-led 4x200m men step on the start line. Kenya finished fourth, in the previous event.