Nairobi — Commonwealth Video games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala says he shall be a person of few phrases and large on motion as he competes in varied races this 12 months.
Omanyala stated he has learnt his lesson from earlier seasons the place he made daring predictions forward of worldwide assignments, which heightened expectations amongst followers.
“This 12 months…will probably be like strolling in darkness. I’m simply trusting the method and dealing with a day because it comes…no strain, I do not need to make any predictions. I made predictions final season and folks had plenty of expectations and issues got here out the way it got here out so this 12 months I simply need to deal with one race at a time,” the African 100m champion stated.
He added: “We nonetheless have quite a few worldwide competitions earlier than the Olympics. We nonetheless have the Indoors…Diamond League after which the Olympics. So, we’re simply taking it a step at a time.”
Having received his first medal on the African Championships in Reduit, Mauritius in 2022 — following it up with a Commonwealth gold in Birmingham, two months later — many had tipped Africa’s quickest method to make historical past as the primary Kenyan sprinter to clinch a medal on the World Championships.
This perception was additional solidified by some good showings within the Diamond League circuit the place he shone towards among the finest sprinters on the earth — ending third and second on the Rabat and Paris legs respectively.
Nonetheless, these hopes had been to not be as Omanyala completed seventh within the males’s 100m last after clocking 10.07 on the Nationwide Olympic Stadium in Budapest.
Drawing invaluable classes from an eventful 12 months, the Kitale-born has not solely made modifications to his psychological strategy to competitors but in addition his physique, which he admits was type of an obstacle to his efficiency.
“Yeah, now I really feel I can transfer a lot simpler as a result of beforehand I’d really feel like my again would crump after which it pulls my higher again, hamstring and glutes. Now I’ve reduce on my higher muscle groups in addition to in my decrease physique. I misplaced like 3kgs within the final two months so meaning the coaching is bearing fruits,” he stated.
Omanyala has known as upon the companies of famend coach Geoffrey Kimani who has been taking him by means of his paces within the new season.
He says it will not be lengthy earlier than the fruits of his link-up with Kimani shall be one and all for all to see.
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“I am going to depart that as much as you as homework and inform you to attend and see subsequent month’s World Indoor Video games. Let’s have a look at how all the things will work out,” Omanyala stated.
He was in motion over the weekend on the 2nd leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) Observe and Area Weekend Assembly at Ulinzi Sports activities Advanced the place he competed — for the primary time in his profession — within the males’s 400m.
Omanyala, who timed 49.06 to complete fifth in Warmth 1, stated the race was a coaching alternative for him as he prepares to double within the 200m this 12 months.
“Principally, we had a time trial for 300m and the coach stated to register me within the 400m. Luckily, it’s one thing I’ve wished to do for some time. The expertise was good and I imagine if I do it once more I shall be higher. We wished to see the place the endurance is…this 12 months we’re additionally operating within the 200m and 400m is principally half of that,” he defined.
Omanyala stated his subsequent native race shall be on the fifth version of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold — also called Kip Keino Basic — set for Could this 12 months.