The 2015 African 400m silver medallist and Team Kenya sprints captain, Boniface Mweresa, has vowed to lead from the front as the country battles for a first podium finish in the 4x400m relay at the World Championships in Tokyo.
The veteran sprinter, one of Kenya’s most seasoned quarter-milers, has Allan Kipyego, Zablon Ekwam, Dennis Masika, David Sanayek and Kelvin Kiprotich for company.
Kenya will field three relay teams, men’s 4x100m and 4x400m and the 4x400m mixed relay, after sealing qualification during the World Relays in Guangzhou, China, on May 10-11.
Mweresa underlined the historical significance of Kenya entering three relays at the global showpiece, noting that it has given the team renewed confidence and belief.
“Last time in China, we promised that we would set a national record in all the events we participated in, which we did, except in the mixed relay, where we came back with a bronze medal,” Mweresa said.
”We need to push ourselves in Tokyo so we can even surprise the country and the federation. The only thing we promise as we go to Tokyo is more medals.”
At the World Relays, the men’s 4x100m quartet of Mweresa, Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack Babu and Steve Odhiambo stormed to a new national record of 38.35.
Team The men’s 4x400m squad of Kiprotich, Ekwam, Mweresa and Kelvin Kipkorir shattered the Kenyan record with a 2:59.29 while the women’s team of Esther Mbagari, Mercy Chebet, Lanoline Aoko and Mercy Oketch lowered the national mark to 3:28.20.
The mixed 4x400m relay team of Sanayek, Chebet, Brian Tinega and Oketch delivered bronze in 3:13.10, finishing behind the USA (3:09.54) and Australia (3:12.20).
“In Tokyo, for the men’s 4x400m, a time of 2:56 will be good. In the 4x100m, if we get 37.90, we can get a medal, and in the mixed relay, we need to clock below 3:10,” Mweresa added. “I am hoping that this time in Tokyo, we can come back with more national records and, hopefully, medals.”
“We have fast guys doing 44 seconds (over 400m), unlike at the world relays, where we had most guys running 45 seconds.”
The 4x400m mixed relay will draw the curtains for the relay programme on Saturday, with the heats scheduled in the morning and the final in the evening session
The men’s 4x100m and 4x400m events begin on September 20, before climaxing with the finals on the last day of the championships.
Mweresa credited the Betika BingwaFest tournament for sharpening the sprinter’s speed since late last year.
”We have made history by qualifying so many teams to the World Championships, and this is all thanks to BingwaFest,” he said.
”From last year, October, we have been competing in the BingwaFest meetings, which have really kept us (sprinters) on our toes.”
He made a passionate appeal to his teammates to uphold integrity and protect the nation’s reputation.
“Let’s run clean so that we do not taint the good name of our nation. Some of us have been in athletics for a long time, and we have been running clean,” said the Kenya Defence Forces’ soldier.
by TEDDY MULEI
