- Omanyala beat seven other sportspersons to clinch the award
- He became the first Kenyan athlete to win the Commonwealth Games 100m title in 60 years
- He also won the African title this year
Kenya’s sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala has been named as the LG-Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality of the month of August.
Omanyala was awarded for his historic win in Birmingham, where he became the first ever Kenyan in 60 years to win a 100m title at the Commonwealth Games.
The 26-year old African record holder clocked 10.02 seconds to restrict defending champion Akani Simbine from South Africa to second place in 10.13 sec.
To win the August gong, Omanyala beat a strong field of nominees among them rugby star Billy Odhiambo who racked up his 100th career try at the World Rugby Sevens in Los Angeles, 800m runner Mary Moraa who won Kenya’s fourth gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth, as well as Hellen Wawira who claimed bronze in the para-power lifting competition also in Birmingham.
Strong field of nominees
LG-SJAK Sports Personality of the Month of August Ferdinand Omanyala
Steeplechase Commonwealth champion Jackline Chepkoech and Faith Cherotich who won the World U20 title in Colombia were also nominated.
World 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon was also in the list of nominees after running the second fastest 1500m time in history at the Monaco Diamond League.
Other nominees included netball player Beatrice Bucho and Equity Banks’shooting guard Faisal Aden.
For his achievements, the sprinter was awarded An LG artificially intelligent 8kg washing machine retailing at Ksh. 105,000.
Omanyala has won the award twice after his initial feat in September 2021 and hopes to break Angela Okutoyi’s record of three in the LG East Africa-sponsored award.
“It’s such a great feeling winning the award twice within a space of 12 months. My success in Birmingham will no doubt continue to inspire and encourage many Kenyans over and above paving the way for many other local sprinters to come through,” Omanyala said.
Feels motivated with second award
Ferdinand Omanyala receives his August LG-SJAK Sports Personality of the month award from LG’s Marketing and COmmunications Manager Maureen Kemunto
He added; “I feel a lot motivated to keep improving my personal best of 9.77 seconds. given that I have two championship gold medals and an Africa record.”
The award was presented by LG’s Maureen Kemunto and Sports Journalists Association of Kenya boss Chris Mbaisi.
“LG has been actively supporting the identification and recognition of sporting talent in Kenya through a partnership with SJAK. The purpose of this award is to recognize exceptional Kenyan sportsmen and women for their achievements across diverse disciplines each month and also to signify our commitment to contribute to the development of sport in the country,” said Changhyun Kim, the Marketing Manager LG East Africa in a statement read by Kemunto.
SJAK President Chris Mbaisi, on his part, thanked LG for their continued support over the past eight years.
“With the monthly award, we are seeing a growing number of upcoming and talented sports personalities among them Angela Okutoyi who won the Wimbledon Open Junior category and won this award for a record three times. Rewarding sportsmen and women is a is an important step towards whipping up the enthusiasts of sports personalities across all disciplines,” he noted.
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