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Mora and Ekwam helped Kenya qualify for the event in Paris, but will not be part of the team at the event.
Kenya’s 4 by 400 meters mixed relay team which sealed qualification to the Olympic games in Paris this August will not feature Mary Moraa and Zablon Ekwam.
The team, which missed out on automatic qualification during the World Athletics Relays which were held in Bahamas last May by failing to occupy the first 14 places, needed to count on results from elsewhere as well as do their best in the forthcoming races to seal the final 15th and 16th positions.
By running 3:11:28 during the Olympic games trials that were held at the Nyayo National Stadium in June,they managed to seal qualification, with Italy becoming the other side occupying the other slot.
The team that qualified for the Olympics during the games also included Wiseman Were and Zablon Ekwam.
Moraa and Ekwam’s absence from the final team is due to strategic decisions and individual focuses on other events. As the World 800m champion, Moraa has decided to concentrate on her primary event, aiming to defend her title and potentially secure an Olympic medal in the 800m.
Similarly, Ekwam, a former 400m national champion, has opted to focus on individual competitions, where he believes he has a strong chance of excelling.
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06:20 - 03.07.2024
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Sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki revealed that a new team of six athletes has been selected solely for the mixed relay event in Paris. The selected athletes are David Sanayek, Boniface Mweresa, Kelvin Kipkorir, Mercy Chebet, Veronica Mutua, and Maureen Thomas.
This team reported to the residential camp at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, to begin their Olympic preparations, with a specific focus on perfecting baton exchanges.
“We selected a team of six athletes, three men and three women, for the mixed relay event in Paris. These athletes will compete solely in the mixed relay,” Mwaniki stated as quoted on The Star. “We are going to work more on the baton exchange because if we get it right, the athletes will no doubt run faster.”
Mwaniki emphasized the significance of this qualification for Kenya, highlighting the growing strength of the country's sprint athletes.
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12:17 - 24.06.2024
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“The qualification means a lot for the country. This is a strong indicator that our sprint athletes are coming up strongly,” he said. “For the first time in history, the country will be sending nine sprinters to the Olympics.”
In addition to the six relay athletes, Kenya will also be represented by Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala (100m), Zablon Ekwam (400m), and Wiseman Were (400m hurdles).
The mixed relay event will kick off on August 2, with the finals set for August 3. The team’s primary target is to reach the finals, after which they will aim for a podium finish.
“Our target is to make the finals. From there, we will plan for a podium finish,” Mwaniki remarked. He also warned competitors not to underestimate the Kenyan team, emphasizing their strength and potential.
Kenya will face strong competition from teams including the USA, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Poland, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, France, Bahamas, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Jamaica, Ukraine, and Italy. The USA currently holds the world record for the event with a time of 3:08.80, set at the World Championships last year in Budapest, Hungary.
As Kenya prepares for the Olympic showdown, the nation’s relay team, though missing key anchors Moraa and Ekwam, remains determined to make a significant impact in Paris.
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