by Justin Lagat
World Relays, photo by World Athletics
World Athletics puts on the World Relays this weekend in Poland. The pandemic has affected the event, but there should be exciting relays like the 4x100m and 4x400m!
Justin Lagat wrote this column on Kenya’s chances at the 2021 World Relays.
At the last world relays, USA had placed on top of the medal table with 22 gold medals followed by Jamaica with 5 and Kenya was in third position with 3 gold medals. With the absence of both the USA and Jamaica at the Silesia world relays, Kenya stands a better chance of emerging on top of the medal table.
Excitement is already beginning to build with only three days to the championships in Silesia, Poland.
Already Kenya, Germany, and Poland have guaranteed medals to win in the mixed shuttle relays, to start off their medal hunt on the first day, if only their athletes finish the event, and are not disqualified. This is a relatively new event at the world relays where two men and two women on each team run 110m hurdle legs. There are only three countries that are entered in the event that will be one of the two finals on the first day of the championships, and three medals to be given out!
The other final of the first day (1st May) will be the 2X2X400m mixed relay. Six countries have entered the event. Kenya appears to have a strong field here with the world 800m bronze medalists, Ferguson Rotich and Commonwealth 800m champion, Wyclife Kinyamal featuring in their team. At the last world relays in Yokohama, Kenya had led from the start only to be disqualified in the end under rule 163.6. The main opponent for Kenya here will be the host nation of Poland that also has a considerably strong team and the home ground as an added advantage.
There will be seven finals on the second day, the 2nd of May: The day will feature the more established and well known relays that have more countries entered in them and that will have their heats being done on the first day. These will be the 4x400m mixed relays, and the men and women 4x 100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m.
