Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala has called for increased investment in sprinting to build on Kenya’s historic achievements at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China.
Omanyala, who was part of the men’s 4x100m team that qualified for the World Championships in Tokyo, emphasized the importance of sustained support to nurture emerging talent and elevate Kenya’s status in global sprinting.
“We had a very successful weekend at the World Relays. This is a historic moment — the first time a Kenyan 4x100m team has qualified for the World Championships. It will go down in the history books,” said the two-time Olympian.
The men’s 4x100m team, comprising Omanyala, Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu, and Steve Odhiambo, finished second in Heat 2 of Round Two with a time of 38.51 seconds, earning a direct ticket to Tokyo.
While celebrating the achievement, Omanyala stressed the need for proper preparation ahead of the World Championships.
“Now it’s down to serious training. I believe the entire country has witnessed what we’re capable of. We need the government and Athletics Kenya to step up and support our preparations,” he said. “A well-organized training camp is essential — Tokyo won’t be a walk in the park.”
Kenya enjoyed further success in China, with the 4x400m mixed relay team of David Sanayek, Mercy Chebet, Brian Tinega, and Mercy Aoko capturing a bronze medal with a season-best time of 3:13.10.
In the men’s 4x400m final, the Kenyan team finished fifth, setting a new national record of 2:59.29 after qualifying earlier in the competition.
Team head coach Stanley Towet hailed the impressive performances, noting the significance of such results for a country traditionally known for its dominance in middle- and long-distance events.
“This performance proves that with the right support, Kenya can compete at the highest level in sprints too,” Towet said.
Kenya closed the championships tied for ninth place with Botswana, each securing one bronze medal. South Africa topped the medal table with two golds and one bronze, followed by the USA and Spain.
As Kenya’s sprinters return home with heads held high, the message from Omanyala is clear: the future of Kenyan sprinting is bright — but it needs backing to shine even brighter on the world stage.
