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Africa’s fastest man is undeterred by what lies ahead as he eyes World Championship medal
Ferdinand Omanyala seems undeterred by the stiff competition that lies in his way as he seeks to become the first African 100m runner to win a World Championship medal at this year’s event.
Omanyala has been one of the consistent runners this season, recording sub-10 performances at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix and Kip Keino Classic before breaking an African record in 150m.
The 26-year-old suffered his first defeat of the season when coming third at the Rabat Diamond League before finishing second in Florence last week, after clocking 10.05 in both races.
On both occasions, Omanyala was beaten by world champion Fred Kerley and there had been criticism directed his way for ‘talking too much’ after his declaration that he will not be losing an 100m race this year ahead of the Rabat meeting.
He, however, feels his critics might be missing his point since his aim is to change the narrative that what may seem impossible can actually happen.
“We come from humble families, old houses and small towns with sad stories. We are not hustling to impress or be in competition with anyone. I just want to change the storyline and the fights that were never won. It’s always for the glory of God,” he said via a social media post.
Omanyala is seeking to conqueror where no African runner has by clinching the World Championship medal at this year’s event in Budapest, Hungary in August and is seen as the best bet from the continent given his form.
The Commonwealth champion won the Kip Keino Classic in a world lead 9.84 ahead of Americans Kenneth Bednarek (9.98) and Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.03) last month, the win coming after he had clocked a wind-assisted 9.87 at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April.
He timed 10.05 in Germiston on April 19, seven seconds faster than his 10.12 in Pretoria a week earlier, during the season-opening ASA Athletics Grand Prix II in South Africa.
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