Omanyala: ‘Monaco will be a pointer of what to expect in Budapest’

Ferdinand Omanyala says his performance at the next month’s Diamond League meeting in Monaco will determine what the world
should expect at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.

The reigning Africa and Commonwealth 100m king sped to an impressive 9.96 finish despite a -2.4m/s headwind to win his
third Kenyan 100m championships title.

The 27 year old will be going into the World Athletics’ flagship event as one of the favourites for the 100m title
following his impressive performances so far in the circuit.

He sits top of the world list in the blue ribband event and his 18 points in the Diamond League 100m standing are the most
by any sprinter so far in the elite one day events.

The Kenyan superstar has allayed fears of burning out after running 16 races over the 100m and 200m this outdoor season and
in the 4x100m in Botswana.

Omanyala has raced in South Africa, Botswana, Morocco, Italy and France and knows travelling across Africa and Europe can,
in his words, ‘affect the system but I am sure Monaco will be a pointer of what to expect in Budapest.’

The Kenyan says he will be taking about four weeks off competitive racing to enable him prepare for the race at the Stade
Louis 11 in Monaco and by extension the World Athletics Championships less than a month later.

‘I am now done with racing for the next few weeks before my next race in Monaco,’ he said after his triumph at the Kenyan
Championships.

The Monaco Diamond League holds on July 21 while the World Championships will hold between August 19 and 27 in Budapest.