Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala who is the current 100 m record holder is elated after being named to participate in the Diamond League in Brussels on Friday.
The Kenyan sprinter has been setting and breaking his own records at will, and it remains unclear how far he can go.
In an interview with K24 Digital, Omanyala expressed his delight in competing in the Diamond League as he seeks to showcase his talent and speed to the world.
‘’My aim this year has been to compete at the Diamond League and hopefully perform to my level best, that would be a dream achieved for me after the Olympic Games,’’ Omanyala said
The Kenyan sprinter not shying away from declaring his best is yet to come with his eyes set on a podium finish in the Diamond League.
Fresh from posting a 9:86 impressive timing in the Austria Josko Laufmeeting in Austria to secure the first position in the finals of the 100 metres race, the sprinter believes the call to debut at the Diamond league couldn’t come at a better time.
Omanyala has been positioned in the provisional entry list of eight athletes, who are due to battle in the men’s 100 m in Brussels.
However, the race includes familiar faces for Omanyala having raced against some sprinters in the Brussels league meeting.
Among those set to battle it out with the Kenyan sprinter are American Fred Kerley, who won silver in men’s 100 m and fourth-place finisher, Akan Simbine from South Africa.
Americans Trayvon Bromell and Michael Norman will also line up in the race. Omanyala faced Kerley twice in Tokyo, in the first round and the semi-finals.
Prior to the Austria opening, Omanyala’s fairy-tale finished third in his heat, after clocking an impressive 10.00 seconds, a new National Record at the just concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Also set for her first appearance at the Diamond League in the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meeting is fast rising Mary Moraa, who will run in the women’s 800 m race with Olympic 5,000 m silver medallist, Hellen Obiri also in the race.
The Diamond League is an annual series of elite track and field athletic competitions, comprising fourteen of the best invitational athletics meetings.
The winner in each discipline at the final is awarded a Diamond League Trophy and 30,000 USD in prize money, an equivalent of 3,279,000.00 Kenyan Shilling.
