Kenya pick World relay team after thriller at Kasarani

Alfas Keshoyan anchors Kenya A to a runners up finish in the 4x400m relay at the National Relays Championships at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani on April 10, 2015. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Kwemoi, Kiprop, Chesebe, Bett team win exciting medley, make final squad
  • Kenya won’t have the 4x400m women’s team after Kenya A lost by a bigger margin to Nigeria.
  • Abednego Chesebe went off first in 1,200m before Nicholas Bett (400m), Kiprop (800m) and Kwemboi (1,600m) to win in 9:25.81.

Kenya A anchored by Alfas Kishoyan lost to Isaac Makwala’s Botswana in a thrilling photo-finish of the men’s 4x400m race as Kenya named their team for the World Relay Championships on Friday night.

Kishoyan’s team led all the way with Alex Sampao, Boniface Mweresa running well despite the slow exchange of batons. Michael Makan got the baton from Mweresa was almost caught by Pako Seribe.

However, Kishoyan charged to increase the gap but Botswana anchor Makwala, who is the Africa 400m champion almost caught up with him with 200m to go as fans at the Safaricom Stadium went into a frenzy.

Kishoyan pumped hard and sailed home to much celebration of the home fans only for the photo-finish shot to judge Makwala and Botswana team as the winners in 3:04.87.

“It was a tough battle running from behind. The altitude somehow affected us,” said Makwala, who also anchored Botswana team to Africa 4x400m title last year in Morocco.

Kishoyan’s team clocked 3:04.88 as the Nigerian team of Tobi Ogunmola, Fasasi Rilwan Eraiyokan Orukpe and Odele Tega came in third in 3:06.71.

Kishoyan, Sampao, Mweresa, Makan and Raymond Kibet, whose team finished fourth made the 4x400m team for the World Championships due on May 1 and 2 in Bahamas.

“We seriously need to work on the baton exchange otherwise things will be tricky for us in Bahamas once again,” said Kishoyan.

NO WOMEN TEAM

Kenya won’t have the 4x400m women’s team after Kenya A lost by a bigger margin to Nigeria. Nigeria clocked 3:31.27 with Kenya A team of Jacinta Shikanda, Francisca Koki, Veronica Mutua and Joyce Zakari coming in 3:35.83.

Another thriller was men’s medley relay where World junior 1,500 record holder Ronald Kwemoi, who is also the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, anchored his team that had World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop to victory.

Abednego Chesebe went off first in 1,200m before Nicholas Bett (400m), Kiprop (800m) and Kwemboi (1,600m) to win in 9:25.81.

Chesebe, Kiprop, Kwemoi and national 800m champion Ferguson Rotich, who competed in the 4x800m event, made the medley team.