Budding sprinter reveals lessons learnt from rare clash with Ferdinand Omanyala

Budding Kenyan sprinter Anthony Lemoshira says competing against Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has given him a great boost in confidence, even as he looks to chart his own path on the track.

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Lemoshira, an alumnus of Gatu Primary School, earned the biggest moment of his career last weekend, when he lined up for the Athletics Kenya (AK) Commonwealth Games trials last weekend at Nyayo Stadium.

The lanky teenager surprisingly found himself in Heat One of the men’s 100m, where he got an opportunity to race against reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist Omanyala.

Though in a bigger stage, Lemoshira showed immense composure, finishing fourth in a time of 11.02.

©KCB Foundation

Though he was way off Omanyala’s winning time of 10.22, Lemoshira, who began running while still in primary school, was delighted that he landed an opportunity to race against the nation’s finest.

"Competing alongside Omanyala showed me that the gap between dreaming and achieving is not as wide as I once thought,” Lemoshira said. “It motivated me to work even harder.”

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Largely an unknown figure, Lemoshira began his career as a sprinter 16 years ago, when he joined the track team at Gatu Primary School.

What began as a school activity soon became the foundation of a lifelong ambition.

His breakthrough came when he was selected to represent his school at an international athletics competition in Uganda.

Crossing the finish line that day changed everything.

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“Running has been more than a sport for me,” Lemoshira, who is also an East Africa School Games champion, added. “It has opened so many doors for me to continue creating a brighter future for myself, my family, and my community. I intend to keep on pressing on, and one day I know that I will carry the Kenyan flag high in international races.”

Now an athlete representing Transcend Academy in Kitale, Lemoshira remains focused on improving his speed, building his endurance, and gaining valuable competitive experience in major championships.