Omanyala shifts focus to world title after French heroics

African record holder and Commonwealth 100 m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has vowed to bag the global title at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest later this year.



His sentiments come days after Omanyala’s heroics in the just concluded World Athletics Indoor in France on Wednesday by breaking his own 60 m national record twice.



However, Omanyala has quickly shifted his focus to clinching the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest which is scheduled for August 19 to 27.



In an in-depth interview with journalists, Omanyala spoke of his dream after setting a new 60 m national record while beating Olympic 100 m champion Marcell Lamont Jacobs in France.



“Kenya will be the world champion in Budapest this year. I am extremely happy. I’m overjoyed about how well I did in France. It simply depicts how the season will be,” Omanyala said.



This was the first time Omanyala, who improved his previous record by 0.1 sec, was beating Jacobs. Arthur Cisse from Cote d’Ivoire came third in 6.59 sec.



According to Omanyala, he is in better shape than he was last year during the same period when he made his indoor debut.



The National Police Service officer has a busy schedule ahead with the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour in Botswana on April 29 and the ASA Grand Prix in South Africa on April 12 and 19 among his first assignments.



Omanyala has lined up two Athletics Kenya Track and Field Meetings, two World Athletics Continental Tour, and six Diamond League races among other events.



Prior to the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 13, he will try his luck at the Doha Diamond League on May 5 before heading out for the Rabat meeting on May 28, Monaco on July 21, and Rome on June 2.



On September 8, he will compete at the Brussels Diamond League with the hopes of qualifying for the Prefontaine Classic finals, scheduled for September 16–17.