Losing to 22-Year-Old in Main Event, Noah Lyles’ Rival Ferdinand Omanyala Becomes Victim of Mental Health Struggles

The 2023 season has not been a great one for Team Kenya. The team’s 100-meter star Ferdinand Omanyala has faced back-to-back losses on the tracks this year. Recently, Noah Lyles’ on-track rival was surpassed by a Jamaican sprinter, Oblique Seville, on the 100-meter Swiss track. As in the men’s Gala dei Castelli, 22-year-old Seville clinched the gold in 10.01 seconds, while the Kenyan sprinter had to settle for second place in 10.04 seconds. This loss comes weeks after Ferdinand Omanyala’s hopes to become a world champion were crushed by Noah Lyles at the World Athletic Championship this year.

Following these back-to-back setbacks on the tracks, Omanyala’s team provided an update for his fans. According to the sprinter’s team, the disappointments faced by Omanyala this season have left a negative impact on the athlete’s mental health. And betwixt this concerning situation, the Kenyan track and field sensation has announced an update to help him improve himself.

Noah Lyles’s track rival faces mental health struggles

On September 7, Track and Spice posted an update on African track and field star Ferinaned Omanyala on X. According to the tweet, “Ferdinand Omanyala has gone mute on his social media and media platforms after a disappointing World Athletics Championships outing in Budapest, Hungary. Omnayla’s coach, Duncan Ayiemba, has revealed to the media “that the fastest man in Africa is mentally affected by the Budapest performance.”

The 27-year-old decided to take a break after facing a huge loss against newly crowned World Champion Noah Lyles. In the 100m, the 26-year-old Lyles stormed through the Budapest tracks with a personal-best time of 9.83 seconds to clinch the gold. The second position was secured by Afirica’s Letsille Tebogo, followed by Zharnel Hughes, who secured the bronze. Both athletes clocked a time of 9.88. On the other hand, Omanyala, representing Kenya had to settle for the seventh position by finishing the 100-meter track in 10.07.

After this loss at the event, the 26-year-old’s coach Ayiemba revealed in an interview, “He had high hopes of a medal in Budapest. Every Kenyan had high hopes and supported him. However, everything didn’t go as planned, and that affected his mentality.” 

However, interestingly, the 27-year-old Kenyan track and field star is still willing to fight and is now looking forward to ending his season on a high note at the Diamond League Finals which are to be held from 16-17 September in Hayward Field, Eugene Oregon. The 27-year-old possesses an impressive point record in the league till now.

Ferdinand Omanyala’s point record at the  Diamond League

After facing a huge setback at the World Athletics, Omanyala continues to hold a steady stride at the Diamond League event. The 27-year-old, who is looking forward to clinching a medal at the Diamond League final at Hayward Field has participated in four Diamond League meetings till now.

Omanyala holds the second-most points (28) in the event, while Fred Kerley leads the list with 29 points. And with these staunch stats, the track and field prodigy is looking forward back the grandeur of Kenya on the tracks of Eugene.

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In essence, by going candid about the mental issues faced by the athletes on tracks Omanyala is transforming the standards of Athletics. Apart from the pressure faced mentally, the athlete has also been open up about the physical struggles faced by sprinters amid back-to-back participation in events. Nonetheless, Omanyala is willing to showcase his prowess on the tracks and clinch gold for Kenya in Eugene next week.

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