Commonwealth Games 100m champion and Africa record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has vowed to shake off competition and win gold at the forthcoming World Athletics Championships in Brussels, Hungary.
Omanyala made the remarks at Nyayo Stadium, where he is limbering up for a series of competitions in his busy schedule of events this year. The Kenyan sprint sensation pledged to light up the track on his way to the world title.
"I'm going to win the World Championships. I just want to let my rivals know that I'm aiming for the title. I'm in good shape, and I just need to keep it up for the next six months to be ready to go," said Omanyala.
"At the moment, I'm working on managing my time. I'm going to win if I run a time under 9.5," he added.
Omanyala said his splendid start to the season had set the stage for a potential medal haul, and he will be training his sights on several titles this year.
"Earning two silver and one gold medal earlier in the year gave me the ideal beginning. I'm consistently strong in the first 50 meters, so if I can improve in the final 50m, my performance will be better. I'm focusing on the indoor games because they've been a great help to me this season."
The 26-year-old member of the National Police Service, who also studies Chemistry at the University of Nairobi, revealed his annual schedule.
"I'll be visiting South Africa for a training camp and races the following month. I am scheduled to race on April 12 and 19. I will compete in the Botswana Continental Tour gold on the 29th. "
I'll return for the Kipkeino Classic after that, then compete in the Diamond League in Monaco, then another one in Shanghai, and finally, the finals in Oregon, which I'll undoubtedly win."
Omanyala said he was already burning the midnight oil to lower his personal best ahead of major global events.
"I love races with pressure. For me, the target is to go under 9.8 secs in Botswana and then come to Kipkeino to break the world record. That's the target set for the next races. Starting in South Africa we are building towards that, sub 9.8 in Botswana and sub 9.7 at Kipkeino."
"Currently, we are building upon the world championships and we want to prepare properly. We want to make sure we run a sub-nine in all our upcoming races."
Omanyala said he was eager to make a second Diamond League appearance after debuting in the race a couple of years ago.
"I have already done a Diamond League in Brussels in 2021. Last year, I missed out on the League because we had the Africa Championships, the World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. So anytime we planned to do something the events collided."
"This year, we have only one championship now that the Africa Games have been postponed to next year. So we are targeting to run the Diamond League in Rabat in May then go to Rome in June, and come back to do some races at home."
