Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno has expressed delight in the outcome of his first competitive race on the international stage, a month after emerging from a three-year ban.
Otieno said he was proud of himself despite fizzling out to a disappointing sixth place during the Kip Keino Classic tour held at Nyayo Stadium last Saturday.
He clocked 10.22 seconds to wrap up sixth in the race won by American Kenneth Bednarek who breasted the tape 9.91 seconds. Kenya's decorated sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala finished fifth in 10.03 seconds.
"This was my first race in three years and I was impressed by my performance. I was thrilled to run in my first Kip Keino Classic race and I hope to perform much better in future editions of the competition," Otieno stated.
Otieno said it would be inconsequential to offer justification after fizzling out to a disappointing sixth position in the race.
"The weather did not affect me in any way because I'm used to running under all conditions."
He now shifts his focus to the World Relay Championships in the Bahamas where he will fly the nation's flag in the 4×100m alongside compatriots Ferdinand Omanyala, Meshack Babu, Mike Mokamba, Hesborn Ochieng' and Samuel Chege.
"My focus is now on the upcoming World Relay Championships in the Bahamas where I will represent the country in the 4×100 race. We are working extremely hard to finish among the top 14 teams to book a slot in the Olympics," he said.
Odhiambo vowed to fight tooth and nail for a Paris 2024 Olympic Games slot at the forthcoming Athletics Kenya trials in Nairobi.
"After Bahamas, we shall be back in Nairobi for the National trials where I will be seeking Olympic qualification."
