WU20: False start for Kenya as mixed 4x400m relay team is disqualified for lane infringement

Kenya started her defense for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships at Kasarani on a very sour note after the quartet of Kennedy Kimeu, Sylvia Chelangat, Loice Morara and Elkanah Kiprotich were disqualified from the final of Mixed 4x400m relay despite finishing second in their heat..

Running from lane four of the second heat that also had sprint powerhouses Nigeria and South Africa alongside Ecuador and Italy, the Kenyan quartet mustered a superb second placed finish of 3:21.21 to book lane five of the evening’s final before an infringement was spotted.

Kimeu who led the team out ran superbly around the third bend but poorly handed the baton to Chalangat in second spot behind Nigeria.

Chelangat made the race better for Kenya with another quality round that saw her overtake the Nigerian into first place only to wane out in the final straight and hand the baton to Morara who brought the baton home just behind the Nigerians.

Kiprotich burst out and overtook the Nigerian at the 200m bend but his strong start rendered him with reduced oxygen. Bamidele Ajayi then reeled in and took first place but Kenya made the automatic qualification into the final.

Nigeria's winning time of 3:21.66 set a new championships record and are favorites to win gold in the evening final. The Kenyan team had the potential to rival the west Africans stride by stride and even post a better time but the infringement robed Kenya of a potential medal in the opening day.

The Kenyan athletes were oblivious of the infringement and thought they had sailed into the final only to be devastated by the disqualification news.

"The race was good and we are glad to make it to the final. We will be looking to be in the medal bracket. I am prepared for the intensity of the championship as I am doing three races today," Elkana Kiprotich said