‘Getting better’ - Omanyala delighted with progress after back-to-back wins in South Africa

Ferdinand Omanyala is Africa's fastest man in 2022

ATHLETICS ‘Getting better’ - Omanyala delighted with progress after back-to-back wins in South Africa

Joel Omotto • 09:50 - 20.04.2023

The Commonwealth champion run seven deciseconds faster at the second leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series to ignite hopes of a sub-10.

Ferdinand Omanyala remains delighted with his performance despite not achieving his desired sub-10 at the second leg of the ASA Athletics Grand Prix II in Germiston, South Africa on Wednesday.

Omanyala clocked 10.05, seven deciseconds faster than his 10.12 in Pretoria last week, and he is impressed that he is getting closer to his desired mark as the season begins to peak.

“Getting better 10.05,” Omanyala posted on Twitter after the race, indicating that he was impressed with the progress he is making.

Africa’s fastest man had a much better start in Germiston with a lightning-quick pace thrusting him to victory ahead of compatriot Samuel Imeta who finished second in a time of 10.22 with the chilly weather not hampering him this time as witnessed last week.

“I don’t know why the sub-10 is still elusive but we are getting deeper and deeper as we go on and building it up towards the season, we hope we will get it sooner,” he told the media shortly after his win.

“We are on course for the World Champs, we are in April and the times are dipping and by the time we get to July, we are going to get that medal for Africa in July.”

The Commonwealth champion will now turn his focus on the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on Saturday, April 29 where a sub-10 is possible given the National Stadium in Gaborone is one of the fastest tracks on the continent.

He will then feature in the Atlanta City Games a week later before returning home for the Kip Keino Classic at the Kasarani Stadium five days later.

The Kenyan sprinter lit up the stadium at last year’s Kip Keino Classic when he clocked 9.85, the fastest time of the season then.

Omanyala will also feature in this season’s Diamond League which will serve as good preparations for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.