Kenyan sprinter eager to make a mark in Tokyo Olympics

Three Kenyan runners have left for Japan on a mission to win an Olympic medal in short distance running at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. The trio will attend an advance party in Japan’s Kurume city, where the Kenyan team will stay before leaving for Tokyo to attend the Games on July 23.

Men’s 100 meters participants Ferdinand Omanayala and Marc Otieno are joined by national women’s 400 meters record holder Helen Siombua.

The three runners exuded confidence in Nairobi on Tuesday evening ahead of their departure, saying their Olympic dream would begin in style when the Tokyo 2020 track and field event begins on July 29. Omanyala said in a statement, “I feel great. It has been a journey and now it is coming true. We are going to show the world what is made in Kenya Sprint. His teammate Mark Otieno is also very excited. The pair became the first Kenyan pair to qualify for the 100m sprint at the Olympics at the National Trials at the height of Nairobi, and both are hoping to run even faster in Tokyo.

National 400m record holder Siombua will join 100m runners in a trip to Kurume city for a 10-day training aimed at winning a medal. The 23-year-old Siombua, who became Kenya’s second-fastest runner with a personal best of 51.09 seconds, won the Olympic Trials in Nairobi with a time of 52.44 seconds. The country’s new gem in the women’s 400m race gives Kenya high hopes of winning a gold medal in the short race at the Olympic Games.