Omanyala plots for busy season after stellar 2021 outing

He started the year with breaking the 100m national record at Nyayo National Stadium in January but with the wind blowing at 3.4m/s instead of the recommended under 2m/s, his record time of 10.11 seconds was not ratified, but that was just the beginning. 

Ferdinand Omanyala, did not give up, instead, he used his setback as a stepping stone in his quest to break Mark Otieno's 10.14 seconds that had stood since 2017 while at the same time chasing Olympics qualifying time, dreams he achieved during the National Olympics trials at Kasarani. 

Most people had written the duo off at the Olympics stage when Omanyala and Otieno qualified. However, the former, when he got the chance gave it his all for a semis berth on his debut at the Summer Games and the feat blew wide open doors that would otherwise have been shut on his face had he attempted to knock on them before becoming an Olympic semi-finalist. 

He made his chances of being pitted against the best sprinters in the world even better when, on home soil and on his final race of the season, he did what he had been doing all season, breaking records, setting new heights for himself to conquer.

This time, he broke the African 100m record, finishing second to American Trayvon Bromell missing out by a hundredth of a second as the American timed 9.76 while the home-boy clocked 9.77. 

"I am back in training for pre-season strength and conditioning, which is the toughest part of the preparations. The new season will begin in February where I intend to compete in the indoor circuit before transitioning to the outdoors.

It is a busy season but I love travelling for competitions, being on the track and having fun so I am really looking forward to it. I am targeting the Diamond League, Continental Tours as well as representing Kenya at the Africa Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games," offered Omanyala. 

The University of Nairobi (UoN) student says his training intensity and focus has changed since now he knows there will be races and he has to be in his best form. 

"Previously, I would just train without a clear focus on which competition I am headed for but now I have the platform. I also have to be in my beat form between February and September so I am putting in the work now," he added. 

Anyone who has watched Omanyala in action knows that he does not have the best of takeoffs and he himself admits to it. 

"I am working hard at improving my technique off the blocks and in the first 50m. But that is not to say the last 50m of the race, which is my strength, will be forgotten. If I could get better at my start and maintain the last 50m pace or even better it, then shaving off 0.2 seconds on my personal best is possible and that means running in the 9.5 seconds range," he admitted adding that his participation in next year's indoor competitions will be particularly aimed at getting his takeoff better before coming into outdoor competition.

Omanyala maintains that Usain Bolt's record of 9.58 is achievable. "This year I have learned that anything is possible," he offers. "We cannot put limits to greatness. One day soon that record will be broken and I am working towards that. However, I am taking it one step at a time. Progression over perfection is the mantra. Every time I step on the track I am competing against myself and looking to run even faster and lower my times and that is what I hope to keep doing." 

Although he admits that the curve in the 200m has been problematic for him and he has pulled a hamstring every attempt, Omanyala maintains that he will soon be doubling as is he working through his negotiation at the curve to avert the risk of injury in competition.