Omanyala beats war drums ahead of Kip Keino Classic showdown

Kenya's sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala is raring to go against Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs and Olympic 200m silver medalist Fred Kerley at the Kip Keino Classic set for this Saturday.

The entrance of the World Indoor champion sets up what is expected to be an epic battle in the 100m race, with the African record holder Omanyala remaining upbeat that he will not go down at home.

The national record holder believes that the race will be an opportunity for him to dip under the 10 seconds mark, adding that he will ensure his presence is felt.

“This will be a big one and a cracker. I welcome the Olympic champion to Kenya and Kerley. I didn’t have goosebumps but the entry of Jacobs has elicited some. I wholeheartedly welcome Jacobs to come and watch our beautiful Big Five at Nairobi National Park but not beat me at home. I won’t allow that! This one might produce another sub 10 seconds but I am at home and I must make sure the visitors feel my strong presence in the race,” Omanyala said as quoted on Nation Sports.

Olympic 100m champion Jacobs set to square it out with Omanyala at Kip Keino Classic

Last year, Omanyala exploded to his personal best of 9.77seconds during the second edition held at the same venue, finishing second behind Trayvon Brommel, the sixth-fastest man over the distance.

This will be the second time the Kenyan will be coming up against the Italian this year after the World Athletics Indoor Tour leg of the Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais on February 17 this year in Levin, France, where Jacobs took gold in the 60m dash while Omanyala settled for a fourth-place finish.