By Athletics Kenya
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya led the nation in celebrating Kenya’s impressive relay performances at the Lefika Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
Staged at the Botswana National Stadium, the meet served as a key build-up event to the upcoming World Athletics Relays set for May 2–3 at the same venue.
Kenya delivered a commanding display against seven competing nations, including Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, clinching gold in both the mixed 4x400m and men’s 4x400m, while securing silver in the mixed 4x100m and men’s 4x100m.
Mvurya praised the team’s performance, singling out captain Ferdinand Omanyala for his leadership.
“Congratulations to Team Kenya for an outstanding showing and bringing home gold and silver medals,” he said.
The highlight of the meet came in the mixed 4x100m, where Kenya’s quartet of Omanyala, Mercy Oketch, Boniface Mweresa and Millicent Ndoro clocked a national record of 41.70 seconds to win silver behind Nigeria (41.44).
The performance significantly boosted Kenya’s qualification prospects for the World Relays, moving them into the top 24 global rankings required for entry.
Kenya already has strong footing in multiple relay events, including: Men’s 4x400m (10th globally); Mixed 4x400m (16th); Men’s 4x100m (16th) and Women’s 4x400m (20th)
In the 4x400m mixed relay at the Lefika meet, the team of Allan Kipyego, Mercy Chebet, Oketch and Kevin Kipkorir powered to gold in 3:14.04, comfortably ahead of Nigeria and South Africa.
The men’s 4x400m quartet of George Mutinda, Danson Kibet, Erastus Mbaluka and Kipyego also struck gold.
Omanyala returned to anchor the men’s 4x100m team alongside Mweresa, Meshack Babu and Moses Wasike, securing silver in 39.12 seconds behind Nigeria (38.98), with Botswana finishing third.
