Athletics Kenya Now Wants World Athletics Body to Allow Omanyala run alone, After Visa Delays

Officials from Athletics Kenya (AK) were frantically trying to persuade World Athletics to let Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, race on his own at the Hayward Field track in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States, last night after it became apparent that he might be late for the World Athletics Championships.

According to reports by The People Daily, Senior AK official Barnaba Korir that they were sure that their plea to let the sprinter compete at the championship would be taken into consideration.

“AK president Jack Tuwei is currently in talks with World Athletics to make them allow Omanyala compete at the event even if he arrives slightly late. We are confident that they will consider our request, because all this was not our fault,” Korir said.

Added:

“If granted, he will race alone on the track and if he attains the qualifying times, he will feature in the semi-finals on Saturday and hopefully he can qualify for the Sunday finals and bring the country a medal.”

Rule 146 of the World Athletics Technical Rules, which went into effect on November 1, 2019, is taken into consideration while evaluating the request.

After finally securing his US visa yesterday, Omanyala, who was clearly excited, took off at 6.10 p.m. on a Qatar Airways aircraft that was scheduled to pass through Doha and Seattle before landing at Portland International Airport, from whence he would then drive for three hours to Eugene, Oregon.

“I want to thank the government and Athletics Kenya for sorting out my visa issues and enabling me to finally embark on my journey to the World Championships,” Omanyala said.

Adding:

“ There is no one to blame here, it’s just how the system works. So let’s all be positive, so long as I’m at the start line, I will run. I’m always ready, I’ve trained well and I have been through a lot so I have a strong mentality, the moment I get there everything will be forgotten, my body is ready to run.”

Onto the next flight🛫🛫 to Oregon.
Am positive that I will compete.
Thanks so much for your support and prayers. pic.twitter.com/dEuMygijjh

— Ferdinand Omurwa OMANYALA M.B.S,O.G.W (@Ferdiomanyala) July 14, 2022