Omanyala hopes to impress in 100m and relay

Ferdinand Omanyala competes in the 100m race during the Absa Kip Keino Classic -World Continental Tour Gold Nairobi 2024 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on April 20, 2024. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Africa’s fastest sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala is out to dazzle today as he aims to represent Kenya for the second time at the Olympic Games.

In his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, Omanyala impressed, but could not go beyond the semi-finals.

Today, although he has hit the qualifying standard already, he is out to prove that he is ready to medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 100m semi-finals will be run at the Olympics trials today ahead of the much anticipated finals and naming of Team Kenya to Paris tomorrow.

Omanyala, a Commonwealth Games champion will be facing Hesborn Ochieng and Mark Otieno among other sprinters such as Meshack Babu and Tyson Omondi in the men’s 100m race.

He will also be joined by Boniface Mweresa, Mike Mokamba and Meshack Babu in the men’s 4x100m relay.

With 11.57, Millicent Ndoro will be hoping to write history by making the women’s 100m team.

She will be sprinting alongside Esther Mbagari, Eunice Kadogo and Doreen Waka among other 100m women athletes.

The men’s 200m is also expected to be another showstopper as Mike Mokamba, Samuel Waweru and Dan Asamba battle for honours and ultimately to represent Kenya in Paris.

Ndoro and Mbagari have also been invited for the 200m clash.

Hurdlers ranging from 100m women to 110m men and to 400m (both categories) will be another event to watch in the national event.

World champion Mary Moraa is also eyeing a place in the 4x400m mixed relay.

The dancing queen will be competing alongside Zablon Ekwam, Kelvin Tauta and Mercy Chebet in Kenya A.

Moraa’s side will face a formidable team of Kenya B led by Wiseman Were as well as Kenya C led by Kelvin Kipkorir and a Botswana squad which was invited to compete in Nairobi.