Breaking with tradition: Kenya’s team for World Relays highlights the country's quiet sprint revolution

For decades, Kenya has excelled in middle- and long-distance running.

Kenyan athletes have won medals and broken records consistently. Few nations can match their success.

While Kenyans will continue to dominate these events, they want to diversify. They aim for excellence in sprinting, an area with little historical success.

Since 1992, no Kenyan has won an Olympic medal in sprints. The nation still seeks its first World Athletics Championships medal after four decades.

The desire for improvement was clear at the national relay trials on April 12, 2025. Held at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, the event showcased intent and ambition.

Traditionally known for endurance, Kenyan athletes displayed speed at the trials. This quality is essential for shorter races.

The trials prepared athletes for the World Athletics Relays next month in Guangzhou, China. This event is crucial for qualifying for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Countries must finish in the top 14 of each relay event to qualify. Kenya will compete in four events: Men’s 4x100m, Men’s 4x400m, Women’s 4x400m, and Mixed 4x400m.

Ferdinand Omanyala leads a team of 21 athletes as Africa's fastest man. His younger brother Isaac Omurwa joins him as a promising newcomer. Mark Otieno returns after a doping ban and aims to prove himself.

In the Women's category, Mary Moraa stands out as a reigning world champion. She also brings versatility by competing in both the 800m and 400m relays.

Moraa gained attention at the 2017 World Youth Championships with her strong performance. Other fresh faces like Mercy Adongo Oketch could also play significant roles.

On the men's side, Kevin Kipkorir made an impressive showing with a time of 45.24 seconds. He earned spots on both Men's relays but aimed for an even faster time.

“I was aiming for 45-flat,” he said after his run. “We’ll polish it in training.”

Sprinting used to be a curiosity in Kenya but has grown significantly now. Momentum increased after modest successes at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Although they did not reach finals then, their performances showed promise for future competitions.

Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei noted this shift after the trials. He emphasized that this marks a new journey toward Tokyo and beyond.

Kenya's focus is currently on Guangzhou while preparing for future events like Gaborone's World Relays next year.

To qualify for upcoming championships and Olympics, teams must perform well now. Last year's setbacks reminded them that talent alone isn't enough; consistency matters too.

“We’ve always had speed,” said Thomas Musembi, a technical official accompanying the team to China. “What we need now is flow.”

Adequate infrastructure is also improving at Nyayo National Stadium with new tracks being installed soon. This upgrade could enhance sprinters' performance significantly.

Kenyan athletes are known globally for their endurance but now seek recognition for speed too. As they step onto global stages ready to race, they aim not just to participate but to make history—one powerful stride at a time.