Ferdinand Omanyala reveals specific target for Kenya at World Relays Championships

Ferdinand Omanyala reveals specific target for Kenya at World Relays Championships

Mark Kinyanjui 05:16 - 02.05.2024

Ferdinand Omanyala, who will captain the Kenya 4x100 relay team in the Bahamas, has revealed the specific target the team has ahead of the event.

Reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has revealed the precise objectives set by Team Kenya ahead of the upcoming World Relays Championships in the Bahamas scheduled from May 4-5. 

With a clear focus on securing qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the team is gearing up for a determined effort to secure their spot on the global stage.

In accordance with World Athletics regulations, the top 14 teams in each event at the World Relays will automatically earn a place at the prestigious Olympic Games in Paris. 

However, with only two additional spots available for each discipline, the competition is fierce, and every performance counts. These remaining positions will be allocated based on top lists compiled during the qualification period spanning from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2024.

Omanyala emphasised the singular objective driving the team's efforts: Olympic qualification.

 "We have one goal, to make this goal qualify for the Olympics," he affirmed in an interview with NTV. He stressed the importance of unity and trust within the team, highlighting the collective determination to achieve their shared goal.

"It is about trust, and I do not believe that will happen again. It is all about brotherhood, trusting the next man and what the coach is putting for us, so that is done and we are ready," Omanyala emphasised.

Echoing Omanyala's sentiments, head coach Steven Mwaniki underscored the significance of the upcoming World Relays as a crucial stepping stone towards Olympic qualification. 

While the ultimate aim is to emulate the success of Kenya's relay teams of the past, Mwaniki emphasised the immediate priority of securing qualification in the Bahamas.

"If the gods of athletics will be with us, we want to have a team that will be able to do what our fathers were able to do in 1972, which is get a gold medal. But first things first, we have to qualify in Bahamas," Mwaniki affirmed.

With determination, unity, and a clear sense of purpose, the Kenya relay team is poised to showcase their talent and resilience on the global stage, as they strive to secure their place among the world's elite athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.