The Olympic trials are scheduled for this Friday and Saturday with more sprinters hoping to join Africa’s fastest man Omanyala in the quest for Olympic glory.
Athletics Kenya has expressed confidence in having more sprinters join Ferdinand Omanyala in the sprints at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and as the trials loom, many will be looking to hit the qualifying marks and making the dream of fans and AK a reality.
The men’s 100m has assembled a strong filed, with Africa’s fastest man Omanyala being in the field. Omanyala will be hoping to push to the limits and having more sprinters join him since being a sole athlete at the event is not a walk in the park.
Joining Omanyala at the Nyayo National Stadium will be Mark Otieno, a former national champion and also a talented sprinter in his own right. Otieno is just making a return after a ban and he will be seeking a slot at the Paris 2024 Olympics to announce his return.
Hesborn Ochieng has also been confirmed for the men’s 100m and he has since proven to be taking notes from Omanyala with his explosive runs at the Nyayo National Stadium that earned him a chance to compete at the African Games.
Others in the mix include Tyson Juma, Stephen Oluoch, Samuel Chege, Dan Kiviasi, and Justine Isaboke and they will all be looking to shine at the event.
The men’s 200m will also be a stern test having attracted a strong field. Mike Mokamba has also been invited to the race, with Kiviasi, Wiseman Were, Ochieng, and Chege included in the field.
In the women’s race, no athlete is yet to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics and Esther Mbagari is the headliner of the event. Mbagari was at the African Games and she also retained her national title a few weeks ago, meaning she is in the form of her life to pull off a great race.
Omanyala’s fiancée, Laventa Amutavi, has also been invited for the women’s 100m, with Monica Safania and Eunice Kadogo also in the mix.
The women’s 200m will see Mbagari take on the likes of Loice Moraa, Safania, Doreen Waka and Joan Cherono. Gladys Mumbe is also in the mix.
Meanwhile, the qualifying time for the men is 10.00 while the women have to clock 11.07 or below to qualify for the showpiece.
