Sports

Mutwii confident relays team on track for Poland

Monday, April 12th, 2021 00:00 | By
Hellen Syombua in past race. Photo/PD/DAVID NDOLO

Athletics Kenya senior vice-president Paul Mutwii is certain Team Kenya is hitting top form ahead of the World Relay Championships due May 1 to 2 in Silesia, Poland.

 Mutwii’s sentiments come after AK on Friday named a final squad of 31 athletes and seven officials for the global event.

According to AK, results from the Athletics Kenya Relay Series and Track and Field Meeting were important in their team selection.

 Most of the  athletes selected are currently in Tokyo Olympic Games “bubble” camp training at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

 The team was picked after time trials on Friday at Kasarani.

 “We had successful time trials for the athletes who have been in the bubble.

While we could have loved to have a big event and trials, but AK is happy with the team given the circumstances,” said Mutwii.

  Mutwii who also doubles up as the competitions docket boss said the country is hoping to improve on its medals tally in Poland. 

 “As you recall, in the previous edition of the championship  held in 2019 in Yokohama, Japan,  the team returned home with one medal, a bronze in 4x400m mixed relays. We feel we can improve on that in Poland,” he added.

 Mutwii revealed that Kenya will compete in six events - the  women’s 4x400m, 4x400m mixed relay, shuttle relay, men and women’s 4x200m, and the 2x2x400m event.

 “As of now, we don’t have teams in the men’s 4x400m race, and the men and women’s 4x100m because we didn’t qualify,” he added.

 Kenya’s 2x2x400m team boasts experience. It has World 800m bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich and Commonwealth 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, who are making their debut at World Relay Championships, and experienced Emily Cherotich.

 Former national 100m champions Mark Otieno and Mike Mokamba, and Dan Kiviasi, who were at Yokohama, highlight the men’s 4x200m team again. Others in the 4x200m team are newcomers Elijah Matayo and Hesbon Ochieng.

 The others in the mixed relay team are national 400m champion Mary Moraa, Sylvia Chesebe, Eglay Nalianya, Emmanuel Mutua and Stanley Kieti.

 Hellen Syombua and Moraa will double up in the women’s 4x400m team that also has Gladys Musyoki, who was in the 4x400m team at the 2019 event.

 The team of 31 athletes and seven officials will leave for Poland on April 29.

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