University of Nairobi team beats fellow UoN side Untamed by two points to claim South Africa race experience
The University of Nairobi’s Hotrods Quartet emerged as the inaugural Open Lanes Varsity Invitational champions after edging fellow UoN team Untamed by two points in the competition’s Grand Finale in Nairobi.
Hotrods Quartet finished top with 30 points, while Untamed took second with 28 points and Kenyatta University’s Endzone finished third with 22 points.
The winning quartet delivered a consistent performance across the races, collecting 10 points per race to secure the overall title and a fully paid trip to South Africa for a race experience.
The team captain described the victory as a memorable achievement built on strategy and teamwork.
“Winning the Open Lanes competition still feels surreal for me and my team. We are proud of ourselves, our strategy and our teamwork. Every race pushed us differently, and we had to rely on each other to make the right decisions as a team. This is an experience we will definitely never forget.”
The finale marked the culmination of weeks of in-campus qualifiers and knockout rounds involving students from Kenyatta University, Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Riara University, Strathmore University and the University of Nairobi.
Unlike conventional athletics competitions that primarily target elite athletes, Open Lanes featured specially designed events, including steeplechase and relay races, aimed at giving ordinary students an opportunity to compete on the track.
The events tested participants’ speed, endurance and coordination, while teams were required to determine how best to deploy their members across the different challenges to maximise their points.
Speaking at the finale, On Africa Director Navalayo Osembo said the concept was created to make track competition more accessible.
“The Open Lanes concept was designed to open up the track and give ordinary individuals an opportunity to compete, have fun and challenge themselves,” said Osembo.
“What we have witnessed through this series has been both entertaining and exciting to see the students embrace this sporting experience. The students have shown the power of teamwork and strategy. We are excited to reward the winning team with an opportunity to take that experience to South Africa.”
The competition began with campus qualifiers before progressing to knockout rounds and the Grand Finale, giving university students an alternative platform to participate in competitive athletics outside the traditional elite sporting structure.
For Hotrods Quartet, the victory now opens the next chapter of the competition, with the team set to travel to South Africa for the race experience after winning the inaugural title.
