This is the first national team call-up Otieno has earned since returning from a two-year doping ban last August.
After facing a two-year doping ban in 2021 that deferred his dreams, Kenya's three-time national sprint champion, Mark Otieno, is back and ready to represent his country on the global stage.
With resilience, determination, and proper practice, Otieno has earned his place in the star-studded Kenyan team set to compete in the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Bahamas on May 4 and 5.
Otieno has competed in the Athletics Kenya meets as well as indoors and the ASA Grand Prix, and was named in his first ever national team squad ever since his return from the ban after winning his semi-final heat in a time of 10.36 on April 6.
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His inclusion in the team alongside Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, promises a thrilling performance for Kenyan fans. Omanyala has voiced his confidence in the team, emphasizing their readiness to compete in the Bahamas.
The Kenyan relay team will also feature talents like Hesbon Ochieng, Mike Mokamba, Meshack Babu, and Simon Chege, adding depth and versatility to the squad.
For Otieno, the upcoming World Athletics Relays hold special significance, as it marks a return to the place where his sprinting journey began. Reflecting on his first-ever international event in the Bahamas in 2015, Otieno expressed his excitement about returning to the same venue.
“Bahamas was my first-ever trip back in 2015, and I am really looking forward to going back there again,” Otieno shared with KTN News.
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With five missed opportunities behind him, Otieno is fully committed to making this experience count. He emphasized his preparedness both mentally and physically, acknowledging the importance of spiritual readiness as well.
“I have missed five of them, but this really means a lot to me, and I am prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually,” Otieno said.
As Otieno gears up for the competition, he remains focused on his personal journey, racing against time rather than against his competitors.
“I am racing against time because if I race against someone, it is going to take off your focus,” he remarked.
As Kenya's sprint champion prepares to write another chapter in his remarkable story, fans will be eagerly awaiting his performance in the World Athletics Relays, cheering him on every step of the way.
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Mark Otieno over the moon after first national team selection in two years
Former national 100m champion Mark Otieno is bubbling with excitement after his first national team inclusion since his two-year doping ban.