Satisfied Ferdinand Omanyala Reveals His Next Target After Early 100m Exit

Kenya’s sprint sensation, Ferdinand Omanyala, was among Kenya’s gold medal prospects in Tokyo. Unfortunately, he has not qualified for the finals in the men’s 100m at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo. Africa’s fastest man expressed gratitude for his performance and revealed his next big goal.

Omanyala advanced to the semifinals after placing third in his heat with a time of 10.12 seconds. However, he narrowly missed out on a spot in the final, finishing fifth in the semifinal with 10.09 seconds. Speaking after the race, the Commonwealth Games champion disclosed that a nagging hip injury had disrupted his training, making his journey to the semis more rewarding than disappointing.

What’s Next for Omanyala?

The Kenyan sprinter admitted that reaching the semifinal was already beyond his expectations. He now turns his attention to the men’s 4x100m relay, where Team Kenya recently booked a slot after securing second place in the repechage round at the World Athletics Relays.

“I’m glad we got here, and those are the results we got,” Omanyala said. “It’s about putting my head together and moving forward. We have the 4x100m relay coming up next weekend, then it’s back to refocusing and working hard until I get it right.”

A Busy Season for Africa’s Sprint King

Omanyala’s 2025 campaign has been full of ups and downs. He skipped the indoor season, starting his year at the ASA Athletics Grand Prixes before appearing at the 3rd National Trials in Uganda and the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix. He later featured in two Diamond League races in Xiamen and Keqiao, before heading to the World Athletics Relays.

His season also included appearances at the Atlanta City Games, Diamond League in Rabat, Kip Keino Classic, Golden Gala, and the Jõhvi 2025 event. He continued his busy schedule at the Kenyan Championships, Serbia Athletics Meeting, Int. Josko Laufmeeting, Gyulai István Memorial, and the Diamond League in Brussels before capping it off in Tokyo.

While his 100m journey at the World Championships ended earlier than hoped, Omanyala remains determined. With the relay on the horizon and a focus on refining his craft, the sprinter believes his best is yet to come.