Botswana and Nigeria for relay trials in Nairobi

Botswana’s Nijel Amos on his way to victory in the final of the men’s 800m at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 31, 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The trials will also be crucial to Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa, who will gauge their 4x400m teams ahead of the Worlds. Amos’ 4x400m team that has Africa 400m champion Isaac Makwala is expected in the country this afternoon alongside Zacharia Kamberuka, Pako Seribe, Gaone Maotoanong and Karabo Sibanda.
  • After beating Kenya’s David Rudisha at the Commonwealth Games, Amos would go for a double in Morocco, winning gold in 1:48.54. It’s at the event where Makwala won the 400m title in a championships record time of 44.23 while Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru settle for bronze in 45.07.

Commonwealth Games and Africa 800m champion Amos Nijel will lead Botswana team at Athletics Kenya National Relay trials due tomorrow night at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.

Kenya will be using the trials to select its team for the World Relay Championships on May 1 and 2 in Nassau, Bahamas.

The trials will also be crucial to Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa, who will gauge their 4x400m teams ahead of the Worlds. Amos’ 4x400m team that has Africa 400m champion Isaac Makwala is expected in the country this afternoon alongside Zacharia Kamberuka, Pako Seribe, Gaone Maotoanong and Karabo Sibanda.

Nigeria, who will bring both their 4x400m men and women’s teams, are expected in the country tomorrow morning for the championships that will get under way at 5pm.

AK chief executive officer Isaac Mwangi said they were expecting South Africa to provide their teams by yesterday evening. Botswana are the reigning Africa 4x400m men champions, a feat they achieved last year in Morocco, beating Nigeria and Kenya, who won silver and bronze respectively. Amos and Makwala, who had won the 800m and 400m Africa titles, teamed up with Seribe and Maotoanong to win the 4x400m Africa title, clocking 3:01.89.

After beating Kenya’s David Rudisha at the Commonwealth Games, Amos would go for a double in Morocco, winning gold in 1:48.54. It’s at the event where Makwala won the 400m title in a championships record time of 44.23 while Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru settle for bronze in 45.07.

NEW FACES

The Kenyan team of Mucheru, Mark Mutai, Solomon Buoga and Nicholas Bett settled for bronze in 3:07.35 in the 4x400m in Morocco.

Nigeria, who had Noah Akwu, Robert Simmons, Miles Ukaoma and Amaechi Morton timed 3:03.09 for silver. However, the team that is due for Nairobi has new faces in Tobi Ogunmola, Fasasi Rilwan, Eraiyokan Orukpe and Odele Tega.

Orukpe was in Nigeria’s 4x400m team for the World Relays last year where they failed to reach the final, finishing 13th overall while Kenya wound up 15th. Nigeria won the Africa 4x400m women’s title as Kenya and Botswana got silver and bronze respectively.