Ferdinand Omanyala, the world’s fastest man currently, will assess his readiness for the Paris Olympics by competing against 2012 Olympic silver medallist Yohan Blake at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, on July 7.
This race marks a pivotal moment for the 28-year-old Omanyala as he prepares for the Paris Olympics, with the athletics events commencing on August 1.
At the Olympic trials held two weeks ago at Nyayo National Stadium, Omanyala recorded a world-leading 9.79 seconds in the men’s 100m. Following him were Mark Otieno at 10.12 seconds and national champion Meshack Babu at 10.20 seconds.
Omanyala has participated in three other 100m races this year. He started with a fifth-place finish at the Kip Keino Classic on April 20, clocking 10.03 seconds. USA’s Kenneth Bednarek (9.91), Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (9.99), and Britain’s Jeremiah Azu (10.00) claimed the podium spots.
He then secured second place at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25, with a time of 9.98 seconds, trailing behind 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman (9.95 seconds).
His most recent race was at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 1, where he finished third with a time of 10.02 seconds, behind world champion Noah Lyles (9.85) and Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.82).
Yohan Blake, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist, clocked 9.75 seconds in London, finishing behind Usain Bolt (9.63). Blake also helped his team, which included Bolt, Michael Frater, and Nesta Carter, to win gold and set a world record of 36.84 seconds in the 4x100m relay at the London Games. He is also the 2011 world champion from Daegu, Korea, with a time of 9.92 seconds.
Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya (AK) youth development chairman, announced that Omanyala will join other sprinters at the low-altitude training camp in Miramas after his race. “Omanyala will join the rest of the sprinters at the low-altitude training camp in Miramas after his race. The other sprinters will leave for Miramas on July 7. The entire team will depart for Paris on July 30,” Korir stated.
Team Kenya’s Olympic sprinters include Omanyala (100m), Wiseman Were (400m hurdles), and Zablon Ekwam (400m). The field at the FBK Games will also feature 2023 African champion Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon and Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse of Canada. Other notable participants include 2015 world youth champion Abdul Hakim of Japan, two-time European champion Churandy Martina of the Netherlands, and 2018 European silver medallist Reece Prescod of Great Britain.
In addition to the sprinters, Nicholas Kipkorir, the 2022 Commonwealth 5,000m silver medallist, will lead Kenya’s charge in the Netherlands, boasting a personal best of 12:46.33 set at the 2022 Golden Gala in Italy. He will be joined by 2018 World U20 silver medallist Stanley Mburu and African bronze medallist Cornelius Kemboi. They will face tough competition from Ethiopia’s Kuma Girma, 2022 World U20 champion Addisu Yihune, and Telahun Bekele.
In the women’s 1,500m, African bronze medallist Mary Ekiru and 2021 World U20 champion Purity Chepkirui will compete against Commonwealth bronze medallist Melissa Courtney of Great Britain.