Kenya’s 100m sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala says he targets to run a sub-10 seconds race when he lines up for his Diamond League debut on Friday night in Brussels, Belgium. Omanyala will become the first ever Kenyan sprinter to line up in the race.

Omanyala will line up alongside Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley from the USA, South African Akani Simbine who was fourth in the Tokyo finals as well as the American duo of Trayvon Bromell and Michael Norman.

“I am so excited to be racing in the Diamond League because this has been my dream since I started athletics. It is a big achievement because I am the first Kenyan to be in the race. As much as this is the last Diamond League race before the final, I still remain delighted to have been selected,”Omanyala said.

The 27-year old has been in sensational form since the Tokyo Olympic Games where he set a new national record of 10.01secs as he finished third in the semi-finals. Though he did not make the final, he went on to announce himself to the rest of the world.

Ferdinand Omanyala Sets New National Record In Austria

Omanyala became the first ever Kenyan to run a sub-10seconds 100m when he clocked 9.96secs in the preliminaries and then 9.86 in the final at the Josko Lauf Meeting in Austria on August 15.

And now, he wants to run a sub 10 at the Diamond League.

“My target for every race that remains this season is to run below 10seconds. I have the Brussels Diamond League, then the Continental Gold Tour races in Zagreb and Nairobi and in all, I want to dip below 10 seconds. That is my target,” he added.

With the season ending with the two Continental Gold Tour races, Omanyala will take a bit of time to rest before switching attention to a busy 2022 that will have the African Championships, Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates his qualification at the Olympic Games. PHOTO/Reuters

“I have had a good season and I don’t want it to stop here. I want to keep on working hard and next season, my ultimate goal is to medal in all three major championships. I know it is tough but doable and I am setting myself high targets to work harder in training,”

“It is all about sacrifice, dedication and a good work ethic. My driving force always has been to be better in every race. I am also thankful because of the kind of support system I have. My family, friends, coaches have always supported me in everything,” noted Omanyala.

Meanwhile, Kenya;s Mary Moraa will also have her debut at the Diamond League in Brussels on Friday having been enlisted in the 800m.

Moraa is running the two lap race for her first full season, having transited from the 400m. Just like Omanyala, she also reached the semi-final of the Olympic Games.

She will compete alongside Olympic silver medalist Keeley Hodgkinson, reigning world champion Halima Nakaayi of Uganda as well as Ethiopia’s Alemu Habitam.

“I feel really happy to race at the Diamond League and hopefully this is a start to many,” says Moraa who raced in Italy prior to travelling to Belgium.