Mark Otieno's Olympic dream still lives on as deadline fast approaches

Mark Otieno's Olympic dream still lives on as deadline fast approaches

Abigael Wafula 17:53 - 08.04.2024

Sprint sensation Mark Otieno remains hopeful of qualifying for the Olympic Games despite the fast-approaching window period deadline.

Former national champion Mark Otieno is still keen on chasing the Olympic dream and is very intentional about it.

According to the National Olympic Committee, for the 10,000m, combined events, race walks, and relays, the qualification and ranking period will be between December 31, 2022, and June 30, 2024.

It was also noted that all the performances must be achieved during competitions organised or authorised by World Athletics, its Area Associations, or its National Federations in accordance with its rules and published on the World Athletics Global Calendar.

For relay events, the 14 highest placed NOCs at the World Athletics Relays 2024 will qualify automatically for Paris 2024 with the remaining teams selected according to the World Athletics performance list for relays during the period of December 31, 2022, and June 30, 2024.

Otieno made the cut to the 4x100m relay team to the Bahamas and they have to dig deep to rise through the ranks and qualify for the Olympics. Meanwhile, he is seeking to qualify for the 100m but has to clock 10.00 or below before the end of the window period which he believes is possible.

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“My ultimate target is of course to qualify for the Olympics and now, I want to focus on the World Relays then the rest will fall in place," Otieno said.

“We want to qualify for the Olympics with the 4x100m relay which will be history and I believe we can do it because we have a very strong team."

During the World Athletics relays national trials, Otieno won the 100m in 10.36 but insisted that if the weather was okay, he would have posted a better time.

“You can’t expect to run faster times with rainy weather…you can’t expect fireworks. If it was hot weather, maybe I would have run 10.20 or 10.10,” he added.