Ferdinand Omanyala Opens Up on Struggles and Near Retirement After Kip Keino Classic Victory

Ferdinand Omanyala has reflected on a difficult stretch in which he struggled to make a significant impact on the sprinting scene, with performances falling below his usual standards.

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion went through a prolonged dip in form, failing to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m since August 30, 2024.

In response, he made a key coaching change, reuniting with Duncan Ayiemba, the coach who guided him to his African record in 2021.

The decision appears to have paid off. Omanyala returned to competition in strong shape, opening his 100m season at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix in Ethiopia with a solid 9.98-second finish.

He built on that momentum at the Kip Keino Classic, where he delivered a commanding 9.86-second run to reclaim the title after a two-year absence from the top step of the podium.

Speaking after his commanding performance at the Kip Keino Classic, Ferdinand Omanyala said he was delighted with his current form, noting that the journey back to top performance had been challenging and at times mentally and physically draining.

He revealed that there were periods when he lacked motivation to train and even considered ending his career due to his body not responding as expected.

He explained that persistence through that difficult phase has since begun to yield positive results, expressing optimism about maintaining consistent sub-10-second performances and gradually building toward faster times later in the season.

Ferdinand Omanyala added that the recent victory was a welcome boost to his confidence and motivation as the season progresses.

“It’s really exciting to be honest. It’s been tough, there are those months that I never wanted to go for training…I almost retired because my body was not responding so well,” Ferdinand Omanyala said.

“We kept going, and it’s paying off now, and I hope we maintain the sub-10 streak and maybe later in the season, peak it up to 9.8. We just appreciate the win today, and from here onwards, it's confidence-boosting till the end of the season.

“I’m taking a day at a time, a race at a time. Now we’re done with the Kip Keino Classic. I entered that field with a lot of tension, and I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a wonderful race.”

Ferdinand Omanyala now heads to the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on Sunday, April 26, with a renewed sense of confidence before stepping onto the global stage at the World Athletics Relays.