Kenya’s 4×100 metres relay team failed to finish the finals’ race in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
One of the Kenyan athletes dropped the baton while running to pass to the sensational athlete, Ferdinand Omanyala. This saw the quartet fail to cross the finish line.
The England team won the race clocking in at 38.35, followed by Trinidad and Tobago with a season’s best of 38.70. Nigeria rounded up the top three list with a 38.81.
A collage image of Ferdinand Omanyala during the World Championships in Oregon, USA on July 16, 2022.
The Kenyan team featured Africa’s fastest athlete Omanyala, Hesbon Ochieng’, Dan Kiviasi, Samuel Imeta and Michael Mokamba.
The poor baton exchange between Imeta and Kiviasi is what completely dimmed Kenya’s hopes of securing a spot on the podium.
Omanyala, who was set to electrically storm to the finish line was left on the track watching other sprinters flex their muscles since his teammate had already dropped the baton.
On the other hand, the women’s 4 x 100 metre relay set a new continental record at 42.10 followed by the England team which set a Season’s Best of 42.41. Jamaica came third with 43.08.
Kenya still has a chance to bag more gold medals on the final day of the Commonwealth Games with the remaining five events touted to be a must-win.
The remaining racing include Women’s 1,500-metre final (9.30 pm), Men’s 800-metre final ( 9.35 pm), Men’s javelin throw final (9.40 pm), Women’s 5,000 metre final (9.45 pm) and the Men’s 4 x 400-metre relay final (10.30 pm).
Kenya is currently position 12 on the medal table table, with four gold, five silver and seven bronze. In Africa, Kenya is ranked third, behind South Africa, which has 26 medals and and Nigeria which has 33 medals.
It’s however not all gloom for Africa’s fastest man, Omanyala, as he recently bagged the country’s first gold medal at the same event in 100m.
He clocked 10.02 seconds to win the race- essentially making history in 60 years for winning a gold medal in 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games.
Ferdinand Omurwa Omanyala in celebratory moment after winning Kenya’s First Medal in Commonwealth Games when he clocked 10.02 seconds
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