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Africa record holder Ferdinand Omanyala says he is now ready to claim a major global title this year. 

Omanyala said with the World Athletics Championships that will be held from July 15 to 24 in Eugene, Oregon, United States of America and the Commonwealth Games are scheduled for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England he feels his day is coming. 

“As you can see, I am getting better and better because I have been taking part in high-calibre championships, Olympic Games (last year in Tokyo), the Diamond League as well as the World Indoor Championships. I am ready for silverware,” he said. 

Omanyala who stormed to a world-leading 9.85 victory in the men’s 100m of 2022 Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour meeting ended on Saturday in Nairobi said he doesn’t fear anybody. 

 “I want to face the best at the world championship, and beat them on their own turf,” he added noting that it will be another opportunity to show that Kenyans can sprint. 

Start power

During the Kip Keino Classic on Saturday the men’s race was programmed to be the last event of the day thanks to the star power of Omanyala, who made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when he became the first Kenyan to qualify for the final. 

Lining up alongside him was Olympic silver winner, Fred Kerley, who won the 200m here last year, with Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs pulling out on the morning of the event after being affected by a stomach bug that led to his hospitalisation at Uhai Neema hospital. 

 After a false start, all the athletes were given the green card after it was blamed on a technical issue and once the gun went off for a second time, Omanyala raced off the blocks and started pulling away from Kerley midway to send the entire stadium into raptures. 

Kerley repeated his position from Tokyo in 9.92 with fellow American, Isiah Young rounding off the podium in 10.13. 

“I promised to deliver and I did it,” said Omanyala, who intends to lower his personal best with 9.6 seconds this season. 

“I have an African record, yes but I want titles,” said Omanyala. 

The Kenyan sprint star is aiming for three gold medals from the Africa Senior Championships scheduled for June 8 to 12 in Mauritius.  Omanyala will compete in 100m, 200m and 4x100m.