Omanyala: I will be the next World 100m Champion!
Kenyan runs 9.92 in Monaco to secure first Diamond League win
Africa and Commonwealth Games champion, Ferdinand Omanyala says he will add the world 100m title to his collections next month in Budapest, Hungary where the 19th World Athletics Championships will hold.
The Kenyan who holds the African record at 9.77 and is the second fastest (9.84) behind Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes (9.83) so far this year ran 9.92 to win the blue ribband event in Monaco and secure his first Diamond League win.
Omanyala made his Diamond League debut at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium in September 2021 and has competed in three more in 2022 with
his best result his second place finish at the Meeting de Paris in June where he came second behind world champion, Fred Kerley in June.
With the morale boosting win in Monaco ahead fellow African, Leslie Tebogo of Botswana (9.93) and the Jamaican duo of Ackeem Blake (10.00) and Yohan Blake (10.01), Omanyala says his sight is now on Budapest where he says he will make history as first African to win world 100m title.
‘I will be the next world champion. There are no doubts about it. I am ready to do it,’ said a confident Omanyala after his victory in Monaco.
The 27 year old said his race in Monaco has given him the confidence he needed to make history in Budapest.
‘Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of. I would not call it a perfect race but I am ready. It was a blessing to win here. I wanted a faster time but win is a win.. Start was a bit ish ish – but we need to make sure we will correct that. Win is a win,’ he said.
