Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala believes there are a lot of things to work on as he looks to bounce-back next season.
The Commonwealth Games champion has had a turbulent season in 2024, failing to make an impact at the Paris Olympic Games and missing out on the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels due to fewer points.
However, Omanyala had a series of wins, claiming top honours at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Int JOSKO Laufmeeting and the invitational race in Brussels. At the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, Prefontaine Classic, he finished second before a third-place finish at the Racers Grand Prix.
Tears flowed as athletes, dignitaries, and mourners paid tribute to Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei, tragically killed in Kenya.
After the Olympics, he raced at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia where he finished second before finishing seventh at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome. He managed second place at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial before claiming the win at the men’s 100m invitational in Brussels.
“I feel like we have so much that we have to sit down and discuss. The most important thing that stood out for me was just to get in shape early and maintain it and don’t try getting in shape when the championships are here,” he said.
The Kenyan sprinting ace intends to take a break but will soon be returning to training in readiness for the 2025 campaign.
“We are still negotiating with coach about how long my break is going to be…he is at five weeks, and I’m at eight. I don’t know how long I’m going to be out but I’m sure it’s not going to be for long because my body is used to training. However, the most important thing for me is to get enough rest and get back to the drawing board and evaluate the good and the bad and see how things are going to be,” he said.