Ferdinand Omanyala, the fastest man in Africa and the 100-meter champion at the Commonwealth Games, set a new national 60-meter dash record with a time of 6.54 seconds.
The Italian athlete Jacobs Lamont Marcel, who recorded 6.57 seconds, placed in second place, trailing the 27-year-old Kenyan athlete.
Cisse Arthur of Ivory Coast and Volko Jan of Slovakia both finished in the top three.
The new record, according to Omanyala, is both his personal best record and a present for his father.
The competition was held in France’s Lievin.
On February 7, Omanyala vowed to blaze a trail this season when he makes his Diamond League debut.
Lievin ✅🥇.
Big win, new national record and personal best. 6.54!!!
God did it.Unleashing the heat in the cold weather😎.
Dad's birthday gift😉.
📸: @stadion_actu pic.twitter.com/jQEUG8CU0p— Ferdinand Omurwa OMANYALA M.B.S,O.G.W (@Ferdiomanyala) February 16, 2023
The Diamond League season-opener is set for May 5, in Doha, Qatar and it is part of the 14 best invitational meets that make up the annual track and field athletics series.
The Kenyan sprint sensation said he is awaiting invitations to make a statement with a streak of masterstroke performances.
Omanyala said he purposely chose to compete in the 60-metre sprint to sharpen his starting strategy and increase speed.
“I can polish up my block starts in France because the 60m is all about the dash,” Omanyala said.
“My strength is in the last 50 metres, so I want to use the indoor meets to work on the first half of the stretch.”
Kenyans at large have also come out to congratulate Omanyala following his performance.
