Ferdinand Omanyala’s Coach Making Up for Lost Time as He Revives World Championship Medal Dream

Ferdinand Omanyala’s coach Duncan Ayiemba has revived the sprinter’s dream of winning a World Championship medal, having reunited with him late last year.

Ayiemba linked up with Omanyala again ahead of the 2026 season after a two-year hiatus following a split in October 2023 that saw the Commonwealth champion opt to work with Geoffrey Kimani for two years.

However, the 30-year-old did not sparkle as he had hoped and even regressed, especially last season, when he did not dip under 10 seconds. His reunion with Ayiemba looks to be paying off instantly as Omanyala has clocked three sub-to performances in his last four races this month.

He managed 9.98 seconds at Addis Ababa Grand Prix before 10.11 at the same venue and then 9.96 to win the Kip Keino Classic. Omanyala would record a season’s best 9.95 seconds when finishing third at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix last Sunday and his coach has big plans for him.

“This year, we have to redeem ourselves first because he lost his glory,” Ayiemba told Pulse Sports.

“From there, we can now go back to the titles because this season he has to go and defend his Commonwealth crown so I am working on that.”

With Omanyala having had hopes of winning a medal at the 2023 World Championships before losing in the final, that dream has seemed difficult to realize in the years that followed but Ayiemba says it is still achievable as he knows the right buttons to press.

“Definitely, we are working on that. That is the major thing,” Ayiemba said of Omanyala’s World Championships medal aspirations.

“We were with him in the previous years but it was like he rested in the last two years but since the World Championships is next year, I am working on him getting at least a medal. That is the least.”

Omanyala will be looking to continue his impressive form as he leads Team Kenya at the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana from May 2-3.