Over the years, Noah Lyles has shared many heated rivalries with track and field stars from around the world. Recently, the triple world champion made two more nemeses in the form of Jamaican wunderkinds Ackeem Blake and Kishane Thompson. Both are rising stars in the sporting world and came under Lyles’ radar at the Diamond League Finals in Eugene. While the “cool guy” of track and field will have to keep his sights on these budding superstars, his peripherals will remain focused on another old foe.

Noah Lyles and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala have had a long-standing rivalry on the track. However, off the field, they are friends to the extent that Lyles once praised the latter’s hold on the sport. The American ace is not immune to “Omanyalamania,” but that might soon turn to dread as the Kenyan legend made a huge change to his training program his year.

Ferdinand Omanyala’s game-changing training shift

Ferdinand Omanyala has teamed up with famous strength and conditioning coach Geoffrey Kimani. The 2024 season will be extremely important for the sprinter’s career, and he hopes to trounce his rivals at every stage. Most importantly, he wants to earn his first Olympic gold after missing it in 2021. Both Noah Lyles and Ferdinand Omanyala are girded for the 100-meter battle in Paris, and the latter has taken a huge leap with this strategic training shift. Track Spice broke the news on social media with an X post that said, “Ferdinand Omanyala has changed coaches ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. He left Duncan Ayiemba and will now be working with Geoffrey Kimani”.

The track and field blogger went on to enumerate the accolades of the coach to sanctify Omanyala’s decision. “He is a World Athletics Sprints & Hurdles lecturer, 2 time Olympics Sprints Coach, a former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) Strength and Conditioning lead consultant for Team Kenya,” he wrote. Besides working with Kenyan athletes before multiple Olympic Games, Kimani also helped the team before the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. Omanyala had posted 9.77 in the 100-meter while training under former coach Duncan Ayiemba. In the meantime, Noah Lyles’ personal best in the race is 9.83, and he has hinted at a better time in the upcoming races. Will Omanyala be able to surpass his personal best and continue his impressive performance?

Ferdinand Omanyala to lock horns with Noah Lyles in 2024

Ferdinand Omanyala must not only match his former personal best but also record a better time. Only by doing so can the fastest man in Africa spread his dominance globally. His new coach has welcomed the challenge, citing, “Onto the hard work!”. His track record has been impressive despite losing to Noah Lyles in the World Athletics Championships 2023. He won the 100-meter races in the African National Championships and the Commonwealth Games. These victories made him unsure of his decision to let go of his former coach.

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

However, after the disastrous seventh-place finish in Hungary, he decided to forego his inhibitions. Omanyala contacted Geoffrey Kimani and asked him to join his team. Now, the track and field legend is working hard to redeem himself for the unlucky end to his Olympic campaign in 2021. If he is successful in winning the 100-meter gold, he will make history as the first Kenyan ever to do so. However, with Noah Lyles competing in the same race, it will be a difficult challenge for the charismatic star.

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