Africa’s sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala and former world javelin champion Julius Yego are currently undergoing intensive training at a high-performance camp in Miramas, France, as they sharpen their skills for the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships set for Tokyo, Japan, in September.

Ahead of the Tokyo World Championships, Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man, has set his sights on cementing his continental dominance in the 100m sprint, also pushing for a medal on the world stage, where the competition remains fierce.

Yego, fondly referred to as the “YouTube Man”, is no stranger to success at the global level, having previously clinched gold at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Jackson Tuwei’s message to team Kenya

Speaking ahead of the World Championships, Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei has urged the country’s squad to uphold integrity and compete clean, warning against any slip-ups that could tarnish Kenya’s reputation on the global stage.

Speaking during the official opening of Team Kenya’s residential camp at the High Performance Training Centre at Kazi Mingi Farm on August 14, 2025, in Eldoret, Tuwei reminded the athletes that success built on discipline and hard work is the only legacy worth leaving behind.

“As you train, just do it cleanly and make sure you impress and leave the sport with your head high,” Tuwei said.

With Kenya’s athletic image dented in recent years by doping violations, Tuwei urged the athletes to steer clear of any performance-enhancing drugs before the global show.

“What’s the need for running and winning medals only to be stripped later? It’s a big shame, and Kenya needs to get out of this. It starts with discipline and hard work,” he added.

Tuwei challenged the squad to maintain focus and discipline in training as they look to extend Kenya’s long-standing dominance on the world stage.

“You’re going to Tokyo to compete, and the facilities here will help you sharpen yourselves. It’s up to you to train and focus on the competition ahead because Kenya has always done well at the global championships.”

Kenya’s record at the World Athletics Championships is a testament to its status as an athletics powerhouse.

The East African powerhouse has amassed an impressive 171 medals (65 gold, 58 silver, and 48 bronze) to sit second on the all-time medal standings, only behind the USA’s towering haul of 443.

Kenya’s love affair with the World Athletics Championships began in Helsinki, Finland, in 1983, a modest debut that saw a 21-strong contingent (20 men and one woman) compete across 11 events, albeit without tasting podium success.

The country’s finest hour came at the Beijing 2015 Championships, where a record 16 medals (seven gold, six silver, three bronze) saw the country top the world.