Omanyala has been embroiled in a war of words with Athletics Kenya over his doping record, but Riadha House finally bowed to pressure after his name appeared in the list of athletes invited to the trials set for June 17-19 at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani.
But his time of 10.01 seconds, an Olympic qualifying time in 100 meters, that he posted at the Making of Champion (MOC) Grand Prix in Lagos, Nigeria is not recognized by AK.
AK have maintained that any athlete who has tested positive for a prohibited substance before will not present Kenya in any event. Omanyala was slapped with an18 months doping offense in 2017.
This time, which is Kenya’s national record was marked RED, meaning that Omanyala will be among the many athletes who will battle for Olympic qualifying times at the high altitude Nairobi, two weeks away.
A fierce battle is expected in the distance when Omanyala goes head-on with mark Otieno, who is just eight milliseconds (10.09) behind Omanyala’s best time; and Elijah Matthews with a personal best of 10.37.
National 400m champion Mary Moraa, 21 who has scaled to 800 meters will have to battle for a spot in Team Kenya’s squad with former Commonwealth and World champion Eunice Sum.
Sum has already attained the qualifying mark thanks to 1.58.99 time but having missed a medal in her last Olympic appearance and a fresh leg to battle in Moraa, she will have to be in her best form knowing that this could be her last shot at Olympic medal.
Sum who competed in the heptathlon and handball in high school has taken part in two Olympics-London 2012 where she finished a distant 38th, and was also in Rio in 2016 where she finished 19th.
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