Athletics Kenya Unveils 104-Athlete Squad for World Relays and Africa Championships

Athletics Kenya has named a massive 104-athlete squad following three gruelling days of trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi from April 9-11, with 30 athletes selected for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, and 74 earmarked for the African Championships. The trials drew up to 800 competitors, underscoring Kenya's unmatched depth in middle and long-distance events — and its growing ambitions in sprints and field disciplines.

The final day produced standout performances across the board. Kelvin Loti stormed to victory in the men's 800m with a time of 1:45.04, holding off Laban Chepkwony (1:45.19) and Brian Masai (1:45.82) in a blistering three-way battle. In the 1,500m, Reynold Cheruiyot surged past Brian Komen on the home straight to win in 3:36.1, just a tenth of a second ahead of his rival. The javelin saw Boniface Kilonzo edge Alexander Kiprotich by a mere five centimetres — 76.76m to 76.71m — in one of the closest field event contests of the year.

Sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala, world champions Lilian Odira and Julius Yego, and a host of emerging talents were all in attendance, injecting star quality into the trials. Omanyala's presence is especially significant for the relay squads — Kenya's 4x100m ambitions have grown rapidly since he burst onto the global stage, and a strong showing in Gaborone could signal the country's intent ahead of the 2027 World Championships.

The World Relays in Gaborone, set for May 3-4, offer more than just medals — they serve as a qualifying pathway for the 2026 World Championships relay events. Kenya will compete in the 4x100m, 4x400m, and the mixed relay formats, with genuine medal prospects in the 4x400m. The 74-strong contingent heading for the African Championships will aim to maintain Kenya's traditional dominance on the continental stage.

For Kenyan athletics fans, the sheer scale of the squad — 104 athletes across two major championships — speaks volumes about the sport's health in the country. While marathon and distance events remain the flagship disciplines, the investment in sprints, field events, and relay combinations shows Athletics Kenya's commitment to becoming a genuine all-round force in global athletics. Gaborone will be the first test of that ambition.