Athletics Kenya Trials: Omanyala to Lead World Relays Squad for Gaborone

Athletics Kenya has confirmed an 18-athlete squad for the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, taking place on May 2-3. African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala will headline the sprint relay teams, while world champions Lilian Odira and Julius Yego are expected to be part of the mixed relay contingent.

Sprint Relay Ambitions

Kenya's 4x100m relay team has improved dramatically in recent years, largely due to Omanyala's emergence as a world-class sprinter. The team clocked 38.42 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic earlier this month — their fastest time in two years — and believe they can go sub-38 in Gaborone. Omanyala will anchor the team, with Mark Otieno, Daniel Munguti, and Samuel Gathimba completing the quartet.

Mixed Relay Medals in Sight

The 4x400m mixed relay has become one of Kenya's strongest relay events. The combination of male and female quarter-milers gives Kenya genuine medal potential, and the squad includes several athletes who have dipped under 45 seconds individually. Coach Julius Kirwa has emphasised baton exchange drills as the key area for improvement, noting that Kenya lost valuable time in transitions at last year's World Championships.

Africa Championships Next

Beyond Gaborone, the squad is also preparing for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana from May 12-17. Several athletes will double up across both competitions, making this a crucial preparation window. The relay success feeds into a broader strategy by Athletics Kenya to improve team events alongside the individual distance-running dominance that Kenya is known for.

The World Relays will be broadcast on World Athletics' streaming platform, and Kenyan fans can follow live results through the Athletics Kenya social media channels.