Ferdinand Omanyala has reflected on challenges during the FBK Games in Hengelo as he setting sights on Paris Olympics.
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has admitted that his performance at the FBK Games in Hengelo was less than his best.
Competing against a strong international field Omanyala won the race with a time of 10.01 seconds narrowly beating the United States' Ronnie Baker, who clocked 10.03 seconds, and Canada’s Andre de Grasse, who finished in 10.07 seconds.
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Despite claiming the top spot, Omanyala’s time was a step back from his season-best 9.79 seconds recorded at the national trials for the Paris Olympics held at the Nyayo National Stadium last month.
The Kenyan sprinter had high expectations to break the 10-second barrier once again but faced unforeseen challenges that impacted his performance.
“The time couldn’t be that fast due to the weather, since it is cold out here. The crowd is nice, I love the fans everywhere and I’m always excited to see such an amazing audience,” Omanyala expressed as per Capital Sports.
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Omanyala crossed the finish line first in a time of 10.01 seconds despite slowing down towards the end to keep his Olympic preparations on course.
In addition to Omanyala, Baker, and De Grasse, the race featured a lineup of strong competitors from around the world.
Brandon Hicklin from the USA finished fourth with a time of 10.16 seconds, followed closely by South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson and Elvis Afrifa of the Netherlands, both clocking in at 10.21 seconds.
Belgium’s Simon Verherstraeten and Great Britain’s Reece Prescod were not far behind, marking a tightly contested race.
Looking ahead, Omanyala is optimistic about his prospects at the upcoming Paris Games, where he aims to deliver a historic performance.
However, he remains aware of the importance of his physical and psychological condition in achieving peak performance.
“We’re getting into camp towards the Olympics and we’ll see what happens in Paris. What I think is needed for a medal? Being healthy man. Being healthy is the most important,” he shared with the press.
The sprinter's physical and psychological condition at the time of competition is paramount, and Omanyala is well aware that these elements are crucial for success.
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