- Omanyala had a remarkable start to his international season at the Miramas Metropole Indoor meet in France
- The Kenyan sprint king set a new meeting record in the 60m dash
- He is optimistic about doing better in the new season
Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala national record in France opened a new season of hope in his career.
Omanyala had a remarkable start to his international season at the Miramas Metropole Indoor meet in France. Omanyala, known as the Kenyan sprint king, set a new meeting record in the 60m dash with a time of 6.52.
This performance not only broke the earlier meet record of 6.57 but also brought him close to the world lead, which stands at 6.48.
His impressive run put him well ahead of his competitors, with Cameroonian Eseme Emmanuel-Alobwede finishing second with a time of 6.61 and Ivoirian athlete Arthur Cisse securing the third position with a time of 6.62.
Notably, Omanyala had already shown his prowess by winning his heat in 6.62. He further improved his time in the final, demonstrating his strong start to the international season.
This event took place at the Miramas meet, recognized as a World Athletics Silver Label Indoor race.
Ferdinand Omanyala National Record in France
Ferdinand Omanyala had a remarkable start to his international season at the Miramas Metropole Indoor meet in France on Friday. Photo/Capital News
Following this new world record in the 60m sprint in France, the Kenyan sprinter exuded optimism for the 2024 Athletic season.
“@ferdiomanyala 🇰🇪 opens up his 2024 season with a new life-time PB and NR in the 60m with 6.52s to win the Meeting Miramas! 2024 is going to be [emoji for hot and exciting],” he posted on Instagram.
In a separate post, Omanyala termed this as lifetime best/National record performance that is encouraging him to do better.
He quoted Daniel 2.23 attributing his year’s success to God’s grace.
“To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter,” the verse reads.
Miramas Metropole Indoor Meet 2024 indoor track at Stadium Miramas Métropole in Miramas, France is part of the World Athletics Indoor Tour.
It is designated as a Silver level which is the second tier of the World Athletics Indoor Tour after the Gold level.
The meet featured a number of top international athletes, including Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who won the 1500m in a world-leading time of 3:32.12.
Other notable winners included Wilhem Belocian in the 60m hurdles, Femke Bol in the 400m, and Pedro Buaró in the pole vault.
How Did Ferdinand Omanyala Perform in 2023?
Ferdinand Omanyala in Botswana. Photo/PlugTV
Omanyala’s 2023 season was a mixed bag of satisfaction and a burning desire for more. He solidified his position as Africa’s fastest man and rewrote national records, and claimed coveted titles.
But, he also experienced the sting of falling short of ultimate glory. His last season started with a bang, setting a world-leading 9.81 seconds in the 100m during the Kenyan trials.
He continued his dominance indoors, winning the prestigious Mondeville Meeting and marked his place among the global elite.
The outdoor season saw him clock sub-10 times consistently, securing victories at the Kenyan Championships and Commonwealth Games, where he became the first Kenyan to win the 100m gold.
However, the World Championships in Budapest proved bittersweet. Though reaching the 100m final, Omanyala finished seventh, falling short of a medal.
This disappointment, coupled with a grueling schedule of 39 races ended his season in 95% success rate.
Nevertheless, he is glad that he inspired a sprinting revolution across Kenya, with more athletes chasing faster times.
He finished the year ranked fourth in the world with a season-best of 9.83 seconds, the second-fastest time ever recorded by an African athlete.
His first success in France now inspires him even more to give the best his body can offer.
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