Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has been selected to lead Kenya’s national team at the upcoming World Athletics Relays, scheduled for May 2–3, 2026, in Gaborone, Botswana.
This 2026 edition marks a historic milestone as it is the first time the global relay showpiece will be hosted on African soil. Omanyala, who recently spearheaded a record-breaking performance at the Lefika International Relays, will headline a strong Kenyan contingent aiming for podium finishes and world championship qualification.
Key highlights of Kenya’s preparations:
- Omanyala’s Recent Form: The sprint star enters the competition after guiding Kenya’s mixed 4x100m team to a new national record of 41.70 seconds and leading the men’s 4x100m quartet to a silver-medal finish (39.12s) in recent trials.
- The Sprint Squad: Omanyala will be joined by established sprinters including Mark Otieno, Moses Onyango, and Ronald Koech, alongside female stars Millicent Ndoro and Eunice Kadogo.
- Middle-Distance Strength: Kenya also boasts significant depth in the 4x400m relays, with a squad featuring Mercy Chebet, Mercy Oketch, and Kelvin Kiprotich Tonui.
- Chasing Gold: The team aims to build on their performance at the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, where they secured multiple qualifying spots for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The event in Botswana is expected to be a major showcase for African athletics, with the home crowd in Gaborone preparing for a world-class display of speed and teamwork.
