That Kenya could not produce women’s teams for the 4x400m and 4x200m to compete in the World Relay Championships due in May 1-2 is discouraging.

It’s even more disheartening that Uganda, which had in the past boasted of quality sprinters, did not regard it as important to send representatives to the Kenyan National Relay Championships finals.

Uganda Athletics said their standards were not up to scratch, what with their season just picking up, while Athletics Kenya held back their sprinters after posting poor results at the National Championships.

The Nigeria team, which participated in the Kenyan Championships held on April 10 at the Safaricom Stadium, was in splendid form, winning the 4x400m in 3:31.27 minutes, beating Kenya’s “A” team by almost five seconds.

Kenya’s “A” team had Jacinta Shikanda, Francisca Koki, Veronica Mutua and Joyce Zakari.

Patience George Okon, who was in the 4x400m team that won the Africa title, besides claiming bronze in the 400m, led her Nigerain team of Omolara Omotosho, Ossai Rita and Oluwatosin Adeloye to victory. The team won bronze at the World Relays last year.

The Kenya “A” women’s team for the 4x200m race, made up of Eunice Kadogo, Hellen Syombua, Fresha Mwangi and Millicent Ndoro posted a time of 1:37.10 minutes.

The only reprieve for some female sprinters came in the medley relay teams, which has replaced the 4x1,500m at the World Relays. The event features 1,200m, 400m, 800m and 1,600m, and has Joyce Zakari and Francisca Koki, who are 200m and 400m specialists.

Last year, Uganda only took part in the 4x400m men’s race at the Kenyan trials but sent the 4x800m team to the World Relays. Kenya who had teams in the 4x800m and 4x100m, 500m men and women, were forced to later include the 4x400m and 4x200m men’s teams after protests.

The 4x200m team would prove the critics wrong, reaching the final to finish fifth. The team, which had Carvin Nkanata, who now holds the world lead of 20.14 in 200m, Stephen Barasa, Tony Kipruto Chirchir and Walter Moenga, clocked a national record time of 1:22.35 minutes.

Athletics Kenya vice president David Okeyo said the women’s standards in 4x200m are below par while the 4x400m team failed to attain the qualifying time of 3:35.80 minutes.

But what is it that regional countries, especially Kenya and Uganda, are not getting right in sprints. There is always the call for better facilities and exposure but nothing has been forthcoming.

Veteran sprint coaches Rose Tata-Muya and Steve Mwaniki believe that consistency is the short-term solution to sprints in the region.

“We need to set up camps across the country especially in low altitude areas like Mombasa, Nairobi and Western Kenya to tap talent,” said Muya.

Ugandan sports journalists Sunday Basaijja said Uganda Athletics is not focused on the World Relays. For instance, Basaija said Uganda Athletics picked on guest athletes last year, who didn’t merit to compete in the 4x800m men’s team.

“We have athletes who can compete well but poor planning by the local federation is one of the factors hindering growth in sprints,” said Basaija.

Uganda Athletics secretary Beatrice Ayikoru said that Uganda has just started its track and field events hence they are unable to prepare the athletes in time for the World Relays.