Kenya’s 2025 World Athletics Championships got off to a rocky start with the disqualification of the mixed relay team. The 4x400m mixed relay team, featuring Mary Moraa, Brian Tinega, Mercy Oketch, and Allan Kipyegon, has been eliminated from the final due to the disqualification. They were disqualified because of lane infringement. World Athletics Technical Rules (TR17.2.3) state that: “Run in lanes, each athlete shall keep within their allocated lane from start to finish. This shall also apply to any portion of a race run in lanes.” “…if the Referee is satisfied, on the report of a Judge or Umpire or otherwise, that an athlete has infringed this Rule, they or in the case of a relay event, their team shall be disqualified.” Kenya has reportedly appealed. The Kenyan team finished second in heat 2 of the first round, clocking a new African record of 3 minutes, 10.79 seconds. They finished behind Belgium and ahead of world and Olympic champions, the Netherlands. The final is scheduled for later in the afternoon.
By Edwin Kiplagat
