Omanyala reveals his source of confidence after impressive start to season

Defending Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala has revealed that his string of sub-10-second performances this season has given him the confidence he needs as he targets qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

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The Kenyan sprint star will headline the Athletics Kenya National Championships and Commonwealth Games trials scheduled for Thursday, 18 to Saturday, 20 June at the Nyayo National Stadium, where athletes will battle for places on Team Kenya.

Omanyala heads into the trials buoyed by an impressive run of form that has seen him consistently dip below the coveted 10-second barrier in the men's 100m.

“I’ve shown this season that I’m in good shape with the sub-10 runs. The goal is to keep that consistency going and, if everything comes together, produce another fast time at the trials,” the sprinter told Mozzart Sport.

The Africa record holder noted that breaking the 10-second mark multiple times this season has reinforced his belief that he is moving in the right direction.

Ferdinand Omanyala, Timothy Cheruiyot headline deep National Championships field

“Dipping under the sub-10 mark this season gave me a lot of confidence. It shows the work we’ve put in is paying off, and now it’s about building momentum towards the major championships,” he added.

With the Commonwealth Games title to defend, Omanyala is fully aware of the expectations resting on his shoulders. However, he insists his immediate focus is on securing qualification through strong performances at the national trials.

“Representing Kenya at the Commonwealth Games would mean a lot. I know what’s at stake because I’m the defending champion, but first I have to earn my place on the team through performance,” he said.

Omanyala's encouraging form this season began at the Cape Milners Club Meet in South Africa on April 10, where he won the 100m in 10.19 seconds.

A week later, he produced his first sub-10 performance in months at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, storming to victory in 9.98 seconds. He maintained that momentum at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, reclaiming his title in a time of 9.96 seconds.

Just two days later, he finished second at the Botswana Grand Prix after clocking 9.95 seconds. His good run continued at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, where he anchored Kenya's men's 4x100m relay team to a new national record of 38.27 seconds.

He then took his form onto the Diamond League circuit, finishing second in Shanghai with another 9.98-second run before claiming victory in Xiamen in 9.94 seconds, his second-ever Diamond League win.

He later won the Triveneto Meeting Internazionale, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting in Italy, in 10.11 seconds before enduring a rare setback at the Rome Diamond League, where he finished eighth in 10.11 seconds.

How much Ferdinand Omanyala earned from Xiamen Diamond League victory

Despite the disappointment in Rome, Omanyala remains focused on the bigger picture.

“The season is still long, and my biggest goal is to keep improving. Every race is a step towards being better, faster, and more competitive on the global stage,” he said.

The Kenyan sprint king will be seeking another sub-10 performance at Nyayo Stadium as he bids to secure his place at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Omanyala made history at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, when he won the men's 100m gold medal in 10.02 seconds. The victory made him the first Kenyan in 60 years to win a Commonwealth 100m title, following in the footsteps of Seraphine Antao, who achieved the feat in 1962.

Four years later, Omanyala's quest to defend that crown begins on home soil, with the national trials set to determine whether he gets the opportunity to chase another historic triumph.