Ferdinand Omanyala: Dream of breaking Usain Bolt's world record is in sight

ATHLETICS Ferdinand Omanyala: Dream of breaking Usain Bolt's world record is in sight

Abigael Wafula 07:32 - 14.07.2023

Earlier this season, he went for an indoor tour in France where he won three out of the four races he was participating in.

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala believes he is inching closer to the 100m men’s world record which currently stands at 9.58.

The world record was set by multiple World champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica in 2009 and it might just be at the mercy of Omanyala as he has been in formidable shape since the season started.

During the World Championships National Trials, the Commonwealth Games champion stunned the crowd at the Nyayo National Stadium after clocking 9.85, to set the third-fastest time in the world so far this year.

In a post-race interview, an elated Omanyala said: “Since I came back from France, we have been putting in a lot of work. For me, running 9.85 was a bit of a surprise to us but it’s a fast time and I’m glad. We’ve been doing a lot of loading training…this is a sign that the target of running 9.60 is close.”

The 27-year-old also noted that he is slowly perfecting his skills of getting out of the blocks and so far, things are looking up.

Earlier this season, he went for an indoor tour in France where he won three out of the four races he was participating in.

The speed demon opened his campaign with a second-place finish at the Miramas Meeting before switching up and bagging wins at the Meetings in Mondeville, Paris, and Lievin.

“I have won a couple of 60m races this year so that means I have improved in getting out of the blocks. I’m peaking my speed earlier,” he said.

He will be Kenya’s sole 100m representative as he heads to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary come August and he is bullish about being the first African to win a gold medal in the global event.

“I have competed with the people I will meet with at the World Championships so that’s not news…we are going for nothing but gold,” he said.