‘Let the party begin,’ says coach Ouma ahead of Olympics athletics action
By Peter Ochieng
The 2024 Paris Olympics began a week ago in France, but for Team Kenya, the games have not started until athletes take to the track.
That moment is fast approaching, with Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen and Reynold Cheruiyot set to take to the track at 12.10pm on Friday, for the 1500m men round one qualifier.
Margret Chelimo, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet will then be in action at 19.10pm for the 1500m women round one qualifier.
Later at 10.00pm, Kenya is expected to land her first gold through Benard Kibet, Nicholas Kipkorir and Daniel Mateiko in the 10.00pm men race.
Speaking ahead of the busy athletics schedule, Team Kenya’s middle distance races coach Bernard Ouma expressed belief that ‘time for Kenyans to smile is ripe.’
“We are looking forward to starting the heats and our main target is to reach the finals, and for the ones who are already into the finals like the 10,000m team, their main target is to deliver the medals for Kenya,” he said.
“We thank all the Kenyans who welcomed us in this city with such amazing warmth. We want them to come and cheer us on come Friday as we open the track and field events with the men’s 1,500m, before going to 800m women’s heats in the afternoon.”
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala who will take to the track in Saturday’s 100m men’s opening heats, before the semifinals and the finals set to take place on Sunday, said his dream is to reach the final.
“For the heats it will be a verse thanking God for the opportunity He has granted me to be at the Olympics because not everyone who wanted to qualify made it,” he said.
He added, “For the semis it will be about thanking God for giving me the strength to be there because the semis are always the toughest stage and for the final, it will be about a covenant with God to give me victory and what I will do for him.”
The Paris 2024 makes Omanyala’s second appearance at the Olympics, after the 2022 edition in Tokyo, Japan when he finished 8th in the semis.
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