For Kenyan track and field stars, the journey to the 2026 World Athletics Relays and the Africa Senior Athletics Championships begins this week at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
Up to 800 athletes are expected to compete over the three-day national trials from Thursday 9 to Sunday 11 April, with around 18 set to be selected for the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, on May 2-3.
Omanyala Leads Sprint Field
African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala is expected to headline the men’s 100m, targeting faster times after failing to reach the 100m final at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo. The first five finishers in the men’s 100m heats will be considered for relay duty.
The fastest six athletes in the men’s and women’s 400m finals will secure places in the 4x400m relay teams. For the mixed relay, teams will be selected in the men’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m, and mixed 4x400m events.
World Champions in Action
Reigning world 800m champion Lilian Odira will compete for the first time since winning gold in Tokyo last September, lining up for the two-lap race that she is tipped to dominate.
Self-taught javelin star Julius Yego, the Olympic silver medallist, is chasing an unprecedented sixth African title after his most recent continental triumph in Douala, Cameroon, in 2024. The first two athletes across the line in each track event at the trials will be selected for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, from May 12-17.
Six Refugee Athletes Join Trials
Six refugee athletes, led by Paris 2024 Olympian Perina Lokure Nakang, will also take part in the trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex — a significant inclusion highlighting Kenya’s commitment to inclusivity in athletics.
The championships will be streamed live on Athletics Kenya YouTube and social media handles.
Source: Olympics.com / Athletics Kenya
