Kenya's top sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has withdrawn from the Ostrava Golden Spike meet, opting to prioritize preparation for the Africa Athletics Championships rather than compete against Jamaican legend Yohan Blake.
The African record holder confirmed his decision to skip Tuesday's 100m event in the Czech Republic, following his participation in two European races earlier in the month. Omanyala returned to Kenya over the weekend after his second competition in Germany.
"I would have competed on Tuesday, then come back on Wednesday and by the time I return to training it is Friday. The recovery and training time would not have been enough to be in good shape for Mauritius," Omanyala explained. "We spoke with my coaching team and decided it's best to prioritize the Africa Championship."
The 2022 Africa Championships, scheduled for June 8-12, will see Omanyala target medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. His team has already begun a residential training camp at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.
Omanyala has maintained strong form this season, setting a meeting record in Italy before finishing second in Germany - his only loss of the year.
