Kip Keino Classic showstopper Omanyala plotting for medals and more athletics titles

Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is a man on a mission. 

He has risen from a little-known sprinter, to at one point be at the center of a controversy on who could represent Kenya at the Olympics, but is now the federation and by extension the country's poster boy. 

However, one thing is missing, a championship title. Yes, he is the African record holder, a national champion, the fastest man this year but he is eyeing a continental and global title before the season comes to a close. 

"The season is just getting started and managing the fastest time this year at the Kip Keino Classic is good. I am hungry for the medals and the titles too. 

Omanyala stops clock at 9.85 seconds to win Kip Keino Classic 100m

I am really preparing for the Senior African Championship and I go to Mauritius with one thing in mind. I am the African record holder but I want the African title," said Omanyala after clocking 9.85 to beat Olympics 100m silver medalist Fred Kerley at the Kip Keino Classic on Saturday. 

The race, which was the final event of the one-day meet was not without its shortcomings. A false start saw the athletes go back to the blocks for a restart, but not before Kerley and two others had gone up to almost halfway in full sprint. 

Omanyala says he was lucky to have heard the gun go for a possible false start, which was adjudged to be a technical fault and all athletes allowed back to their blocks. 

In a busy athletics season that has the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games happening in the same year, within two weeks of each other, Omanyala believes that will work in his favour. 

"I thank God these events come in the same year and in quick succession. I am preparing for all three (Inclined the African event set for June) and I will handle one at a time. I have to stay at my best for the next three months to be able to compete against the best. 

Omanyala eyeing the triple in Mauritius

It is not hard to stay on top for three months but I need to stay humble and hungry within letting the fame and the attention sway me away from my focus. I will keep with my training, always listening to my coach," added the sprinter. 

Before the Kip Keino Classic, teh 9.77 runner has predicted the race would be won in 9.7 seconds. He even went ahead to challenge Kerley and Marcell Jacobs to a 9.6 the day before his race. He, however, says he is not disappointed with his time. 

"You cannot be disappointed by a 9.8 seconds timing, that is fast. In every race I am jn I want to lower my time. I ran 9.9 in South Africa before the 9.8 at Kasarani and I am projecting lower times as the season progresses, who knows I might go under 9.5 soon if the trend continues," said a confident Omanyala. 

His resolve to be in the World Championships and Commonwealth Games finals is so strong strong he is hoping to race the Olympic champion Jacobs before then. The Italian was part if the Kip Keino Classic book a stomach bug saw him withraw on the last day. 

"I wanted to race Marcell. It is sad what he had to go through and I wish him a quick recovery. I am hoping to run against him before the World Championships," he offered.