National 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has reacted after Kenya’s 4x100m relay team made a costly mistake at the final of the 2022 Commonwealth Games held at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Kenya was one of the favourite teams to register a podium place finish, but a baton changeover mistake between Dan Kiviasi and Samwel Imeta made the team not finish the race.
Omanyala stated that although he wanted to return home with two medals, he understood that everything happened for a reason and his focus was on the next assignment.
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“It has been an emotional roller coaster for me in Birmingham. Really wanted two medals, God gave me Gold in the 100M. A historic win it was.
“For the 4 by 100M relay my heart bleeds, but I know that everything happens for a reason. On to the next,” read his Twitter statement.
The team that also had Mike Mokamba bagged gold at the 2022 African Championships held in Reduit, Mauritius in June this year, defeating the likes of Zimbabwe and South Africa in the process.
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Hosts England won the race in a season-best of 38.35, seconds ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria who clocked 38.70 and 38.81 seconds respectively.
Omanyala won Kenya’s first Gold medal at the biennial event when he produced a thrilling performance to win the 100m race in 10.02 seconds.
Although Kenya currently ranks 12th, there is a high chance of winning more medals tonight. Kenyan athletes will line up in the 1,500m women’s final, 800m men’s final and 5,000m women’s final.
Former World Champion Julius Yego and Alexander Kiprotich are also expected to represent the country in the men’s Javelin throw at 2140hrs East African Time.
The final event of the Games will be the 4x400m men’s relay which is slated for 2230hrs. Kenya’s 4x400m team has Wycliffe Kinyamal, William Mbevi, Wiseman Were, William Rayian and Boniface Mweresa.