Kenyan sprinters Robert Ouko, Naftali Bon, Thomas Saisi and Hezekiah Nyamau pose for a photo after a competition in this 1970 photo.
In qualifying to compete in the 2025 World Athletics Championships, Kenya’s relay teams have raised expectations that the country could be on its way to achieving the success of yesteryears in global championships.
While competing in the 2025 World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China at the weekend, Kenya’s 4x400m mixed relay team of Mercy Oketch, David Sayayek, Mercy Chebet and Brian Tinega finished third to claim bronze medal, effectively qualifying to compete in the World Athletics Championships due September 13-21 in Tokyo.
Kenya men’s 4x400m team of Zablon Ekwama, Boniface Mweresa, Kevin Kiprotich and Kevin Kipkorir, and the 4x100m team of Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala, Boniface Mweresa, Meshak Babu and Steve Onyango, also competed in Guangzhou and qualified for the World Athletics Championships, raising expectations that the country could attain dizzying heights success of 1968 and 1972.
As the 4x400m mixed relay team, men’s 4x400m squad and 4x100m athletes prepare to compete in the World Athletics Championships in Japan, they will not be walking the unbeaten path.
In 1968, the Kenyan quartet of Daniel Rudisha, Hezekiah Nyamau, Naftali Bon, and Charles Asati claimed silver medal in men’s 4x400 metres relay at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
Kenya, coached by John Velzian, finished behind the USA but ahead of West Germany. The late Daniel Rudisha swept through the anchor leg for Kenya to victory at the 1968 Olympics after being put through by Naftali Bon the third leg. Charles Asati ran the first leg, with Hezekiah Nyamau taking the second.
Hezekiah Nyamao (left) and Charles Asati when they attended Safaricom 10km race at Gusii Stadium on September 27, 2019.
But four years later at the 1972 Olympics, the Kenyan team of Asati, Nyamau, Robert Ouko and Julius Sang went one better, winning gold in Munich.
Kenya is yet to win medals in 4x400m relay both at the Olympics and at the World Athletics Championships since that remarkable run.
In Munich, the late Julius Sang anchored the team to victory in 2:59.83 after being put through by the late Robert Ouko. Asati and Nyamau ran the first and second legs respectively.
Asati, who was in Kenya men’s 4x400m team at 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games, reckons that the current squad needs to sharpen its baton handling skills to shine in Tokyo.
“Relays is a team effort, and the baton handling skills of the Kenyan team has improved, but the athletes need to work on their speed. They need to stay fearless and brave even in the face of strong opposition,” Asati, who turned 79 on March 3, said.
“Relays is a team effort, and the team members should stay together for long to know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and baton handling skills,” John Anzrah, who coached Kenya men’s 4x400m team to victory at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games, observes.
Kenya's 4.x400metres relay team of Zablon Ekhal Ekwam, Boniface Ontuga Mweresa, Brian Onyari Tinega, and Kevin Kipkorir celebrate after heat 3 during the 2025 World Athletics Relays at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, Guangzhou, China on May 10, 2025.
In 1983, Kenya men’s 4x100m team of Alfred Nyambane Johnson, Peter Wekesa, John Anzrah, Moja Shivanda represented competed at the World Athletics Championships, but got disqualified for lane infringement.
“We went into Helsinki having run 38.81 seconds in Munich,” Anzrah recalls.
“We had not grasped baton technique at the changeover zone, and that messed up our race, leading to disqualification.”
Anzrah, 70, is elated to see Kenya again qualifying for the World Athletics Championships. He reckons Kenya should revive interest in the sprints among local athletes, even as they focus on middle and long distance races.
“I feel nice to finally see a Kenyan team at the worlds. I know how it feels and congratulations to Omanyala and company for the job well done,” Anzrah said. He paid glowing tribute to Omanyala for changing the face of sprints in the country.
Kenya men’s 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relay teams are making a return to the World Athletics Championships hoping for better results after they exited the championships in the preliminary stage at the 2023 edition in Budapest.
Since Kenya men’s 4x400m relay quartet of Anzrah, David Kitur, James Atuti and James Maina lost in the semi-finals of the 1983 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki , the country has been to nine world events without making an impact.
Kenya men’s 4x400m relay team finished fifth twice at the World Athletics Championships in the 1987 edition in Rome and 1991 (Tokyo0, but the country’s best performance at the world championships came in 1993 in Stuttgart where the lethal quartet of Kennedy Ochieng, Simon Kemboi, Abednego Matilu and the late Samson Kitur claimed silver.
Kenya clocked 2:59.82, losing to the United States of America, who won in a world record time of 2:54.29. The team had legendary Michael Johnson.
The 4x400m mixed relays were first introduced at the World Athletics Championships in 2019 in Doha, where Kenya failed to reach the final. Kenya failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Oregon, but made it to the 2023 Budapest, losing in the first round.
