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Kenya: Omanyala’s Big Day As Kenya Awaits Gold in Tokyo

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4 years ago

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In Tokyo

Ferdinand Omanyala was fielding questions from journalists at the mixed zone of the National Stadium in Tokyo when Johan Blake happened by.

“Hi champ,” Omanyala turned back, saluting his sprints role model.

“Hi there,” Blake acknowledged as he walked past into the athletes’ changing room, his disappointment evident.

The surreal moment highlighted the climax of a journey Omanyala had travelled, becoming a Kenyan sensation in the 100 metres

He might not have qualified for the final yesterday, but his semi-final time, a fraction of a second outside qualifying, will offer him so much hope.

Omanyala’s run overshadowed Kenya’s qualification in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase where, despite battling hamstring and Achilles injuries, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech joined Hyvin Kiyeng in the final with Purity Kirui failing to make it.

“I’ve been having hamstring and Achilles’ problems and my leg felt heavy today,” Chepkoech, who holds the world record at 8:44.32, said.

In the 100m semi-finals, the opening race of the evening session, no-one gave Omanyala a chance.

But having polished his take-off under strength and conditioning coach Geoffrey Kimani, Omanyala surprised even himself.

Initially, the giant electronic stadium screen had Omanyala as second behind De Grasse in Heat One, but when the Omega system calibrated, the Kenyan dropped to third in the national record 10.00 seconds, behind USA’s Fred Kerley (9.96) and Canada’s Andre de Grasse (9.98).