Omanyala to begin indoor season with Miramas meet this weekend

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will compete in three indoor races this calendar year.

In a 2024 Indoor calendar released on Tuesday, the reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion announced that he will begin his international assignments by taking part in this weekend’s Miramas Indoor Meet in France on 2 February, with the next event happening nine days later in the capital Paris at the Meeting Indoor de Paris.

After that, the 28-year-old will wrap up his preparations for what will be a busy year on 1-3 March as he lines up for the World Indoor Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Seasons come and go but the memories and history we create will always last forever,” Omanyala posted on his X account. “And with that the 2024 season is here with us. Here is my indoor calendar. What's up France?”

Miramas will bring good memories for Omanyala, who last week (Friday) posted an impressive 20.46 in the 200m race at the third Athletics Kenya Track and Field meet in Nairobi, as it was the venue he began his campaign last season (and the year before), setting up a string of new personal bests with a 6.60s finish on 4 February 2023.

Following that performance, Omanyala went on to set a new national record clocking 6.55s at the Mondeville Indoor meeting, before cruising to a 6.56s win in Paris days later.

His best indoor result was left till the last outing - at Meeting Lievin Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais - when he stunned reigning Olympic champion Marcell Lamont Jacobs winning the 60m event in a record Kenyan time of 6.54 seconds.

Omanyala stuns Olympic champion in France and sets new record

With this year focused on the Olympic Games in Paris, it is expected that Omanyala will limit his events, even as he looks to attempt both the 100m and 200m races.