How Omanyala Sprint Club will take shape at Merishaw School
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 19.12.25. | 17:39
While the initial focus is on Merishaw School students, the program is designed to expand over time
Days after the launch of the Omanyala Sprint Club, the focus has already shifted to how the program will be rolled out to nurture the next generation of sprinters.
The initiative, anchored at Merishaw School in Isinya, Kajiado County, is designed to create a structured pathway from school athletics to elite competition. It was launched on Wednesday, 17 December.
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Merishaw School Games Master Kipkirui Sang explained that the program will kick off with internal trials for students, starting next term.
The trials will be aimed at identifying those with sprinting potential, after which specialized coaches will step in to guide and train them professionally.
“We are going to conduct trials starting next term for students within our school. After identifying those capable of joining the sprint club, the coaches will then come in,” Sang told Mozzart Sport.
Once the athletes are selected, their development will be carefully monitored.
Depending on their progress and competitiveness, they will be gradually exposed to higher levels of competition, ensuring a seamless transition beyond school athletics.
“After a certain period, depending on how competitive the athletes prove to be, we will expose them out there. This is about answering the question: What’s next after school?” Sang added.
While the initial focus is on Merishaw School students, the program is designed to expand over time.
During school holidays, the club plans to open its doors to other talented sprinters, host talent identification camps, and even organize international competitions in collaboration with the Omanyala Foundation.
A key highlight of the sprint club is mentorship from Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, who will provide hands-on guidance and professional training to the athletes.
Omanyala emphasized that the club was created to ensure continuity in Kenyan sprinting.
“We are doing this to make sure more sprinters are coming up in future championships. I do not want to leave a gap. That was the essence of coming up with the sprint club. We hope to recruit as many sprinters as we can from here and give them a clear pathway to their careers going forward,” he said.
The program has been rolled out under the Omanyala Foundation.
The foundation operates on three key pillars, with sprint talent development at its core.
It is driven by the belief that every budding sprinter deserves a fair opportunity to reach their full potential.
Through the initiative, the foundation aims to identify, nurture, and mentor young athletes by providing them with structured pathways from school-level athletics to elite competition.
This will be achieved through the establishment of sprint clubs in schools, training of specialized coaches, and offering access to professional mentorship.
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