Exclusive: Ferdinand Omanyala and Co. Deliver 4x100m Breakthrough as Kenya Qualifies for Worlds

Kenyan track and field fans held their breath on Sunday, 11 May, as the national men’s 4x100m team took to the track. 

The fans, having endured a four-decade dry spell for the event, were optimistic that the team would finally give them a reason to celebrate.

As the starter’s gun fired, the team flew into action, each exchange crisp, each leg powerful.

Boniface Mweresa, who captained the team, opened the race with a confident burst before handing the baton to Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, who dominated the back stretch. 

Meshack Baabu navigated the curve with control, and Steve Onyango brought it home with a powerful anchor leg, stopping the clock at 38.51 seconds, just behind team Belgium, who clocked 38:49.

The standout performance saw the Kenyans seal a historic qualification to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. 

A moment four decades in the making

It also broke a 42-year drought in the 4x100m relay. The last time Kenya competed in this discipline at the World Championships was back in 1983.

The team was coming to the race after a heartbreak on Saturday, 10 May. They narrowly missed automatic qualification during the heats, despite setting a new national record of 38.35 seconds. They, however, returned stronger and more determined on Sunday. 

Their efforts not only earned them qualification but also shattered Kenya’s previous 4x100m national record of 39.28 seconds set in 2022 at the Africa Senior Championships in Mauritius.

Omanyala’s comeback and leadership

For Omanyala, this performance served as a fitting comeback as he finished last during the Shanghai Diamond League held on Saturday, 3 May. He placed seventh in 10.25 seconds as South African Akani Simbine went on to win in 9:82 seconds.

Speaking to SportsBoom via a call from Guangzhou, Omanyala was proud to be part of history. The win capped his two-week stay in China. 

“We had the best weekend. I am excited that we are part of history. It is going to be written that this is the team that made Kenya qualify for the first time in the 4 by 100m in a World Championship,” he told SportsBoom.com. 

Repechage format offers second chance

The 2022 Commonwealth Games 100m champion went on to explain that the heartbreak on Saturday only pushed them to do better in the repechage. 

The new competition format dictates that those who do not qualify on the first try will get another shot in the repechage round, where the top two in each of three heats will also earn a berth to Tokyo. Kenya were lucky in the repechage round.

“On Saturday, we ran a national record. It is just that the team ahead of us was a bit lucky, but today (Sunday), we had to get into number two and qualify for the World Championships,” he revealed.

Call for support ahead of Tokyo

With the victory now behind them, Omanyala noted that it is all systems go as they prepare to face heavyweights in Tokyo. He urged the country’s athletics governing body, Athletics Kenya, to support them as they make the audacious attempt of clinching a medal at the World Championships.

“Now is getting down to business. I am sure the country has seen so they need to give the boys the opportunities, financially and whatever we ask for, especially the camps, because the World Championships we are sure is not going to be a walk in the park,” he concluded.

Bronze for Kenya in mixed 4x400m relay

Their success was followed by another historic moment for Kenya when the mixed 4x400m relay team clinched bronze, which was the country’s only medal at this year’s event.

Anchored by former national champion Mercy Adongo Oketch, alongside David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet, and Brian Onyari Tinega, the team clocked a season-best 3:13.10, securing not just a medal but also a place at the 2025 global showpiece.

Jamaica exits in embarrassing fashion

Jamaica's men's 4x100m relay team saw their World Championships dream crumble after back-to-back mishaps during the two-night qualification event.

In the second round of qualifying, Julian Forte, running the second leg, appeared to suffer a hamstring injury as he approached teammate Yohan Blake on the back straight. 

Despite a valiant attempt to complete the handover, Forte collapsed before reaching Blake and had to be taken off the track in a wheelchair.

The previous night had already dealt a blow to the team, when a dropped baton, again between Forte and Blake, led to a “Did Not Finish” result.

As a result, Jamaica failed to complete the race on both attempts. 

Fans were also denied the chance to watch anchor Kishane Thompson, the 100m silver medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympics, in action on the home stretch.

Now, Jamaica’s only remaining hope of making it to Tokyo in September lies in global rankings, with just two qualification spots left to be filled.

Watching a 4x100m race at the world championships, missing a team from Jamaica would not feel right.