Kenyan sprinter Mark Odhiambo Otieno has expressed admiration for Ferdinand Omanyala’s impressive performance at the World Championship.

Omanyala reached his first-ever final at a world championship, a remarkable achievement.

Omanyala’s qualification

During the semifinals in Budapest, Hungary, Omanyala secured his spot in the final by the slimmest of margins.

After finishing outside the top two automatic qualification slots in Heat One, he had to rely on the results of subsequent heats to determine his fate.

Only the top two from each of the three semifinals, plus the next two fastest runners, advanced to the final. Omanyala secured the last available slot.

Omanyala however finished seventh in the men’s 100m final race but still attracted Odhiambo’s praise.

Odhiambo to Omanyala

Odhiambo, who has competed alongside Omanyala in the past, acknowledged the significance of reaching the final and encouraged Omanyala to continue pushing the boundaries of his performance.

“There have been a lot of great performances at #Budapest2023 from our fellow countrymen and women, but what’s most impressive is how Ferdiomanyala keeps defying the odds. Congratulations on reaching the finals, let’s keep pushing our own boundaries like never before,” he said in a statement.

In addition to his World Championship achievements, Omanyala has already qualified for the Diamond League Final in Eugene, scheduled for September.

He will also participate in the Diamond League event in Xiamen, China, on September 3, with the season’s final event being the Diamond League finals in Oregon, USA, on September 15.