Sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, javelin thrower Julius Yego and middle distance runner Wycliffe Kinyamal are hoping to nail down team places in the Kenyan trials at Nyayo National Stadium, with an eye on achieving milestones in their careers at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
From Thursday, athletes have been competing in the national trials at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, eager to catch the eyes of Team Kenya selectors ahead of the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games that will take place from July 23 to August 7 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Omanyala, who became the first Kenyan athlete to win gold medal in men’s 100 metres race at the modern Commonwealth Games in 2022 in Birmingham, is aiming to become the third athlete to successfully defend his title at the quadrennial championships.
Sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, middle distance runner Wycliffe Kinyamal and javelin thrower Julius Yego are hoping to nail down team places in the Kenyan trials for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Photo credit: File
Don Quarrie from Jamaican won gold in men’s 200m race in the inaugural edition of the games held in 1970 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He went on to win back-to-back titles at the 1974 games in Christchurch, New Zealand, and at the 1978 Edmonton championships in Canada.
Briton Linford Christie won men’s 100m title at the 1990 games in Auckland, New Zealand and at the 1994 championships in Victoria, Canada.
On Thursday, Omanyala easily won his heat on the first day of the trials in 11.22 seconds to qualify for the semi-finals, keeping alive hope for a fifth national 100m title and a second Commonwealth Games gong.
For Kenya, the Commonwealth Games trials will double up as the National Athletics Championships. The trials, sponsored by KCB Bank, started on Thursday and will conclude on Saturday. Afterwards, Kenya will name a team of 49 athletes selected from the exercise.
Ferdinand Omanyala charges past Brandon Hicklin in 100m men finishing line during World Continental Gold Tour Kipkeino Classic on April 24, 2026 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Omanyala said he couldn’t wait to qualify from the Kenyan trials so as to gun for victory at the quadrennial championships in Glasgow.
For most athletes, qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a stepping stone to the 2027 World Athletics Championships, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“I hope to successfully defend my title. It comes with pressure to perform, but that is what drives me to victory and good times,” said Omanyala, who was forced to cut short his tour of Europe to attend the Kenyan trials.
“If I sail through, I will be the man to beat in Glasgow and that gives me motivation and a lot of energy.”
Omanyala, who is the current African record holder over 100m, said a successful defence of his Olympic title would put him on the same platform as greats like Quarrie and Linford Christie.
“I thank God that I have regained my form. It’s a season of restoration and I am looking forward to the next half of the season, which is quite important, given the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Challenge,” said Omanyala, who is fresh from winning the 100m race at the Xiamen Diamond League.
Kenya's Julius Yego in action during Absa Kipkeino Classic Javelin Throw on May 31, 2025 at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Yego’s mind will be flooding with beautiful memories. He hopes to return to Glasgow, a place where he won the first Commonwealth Games javelin throw title for Kenya in 2014.
“Glasgow is where I won my maiden gold medal in a championship outside Africa. It will be an honour to return there after 12 years. Another victory will be a huge bonus for me but I know it won’t be easy,” said Yego, who settled for bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Yego, 37, who won record seventh Africa title at the 2026 Africa Athletics Championships held in Ghana from May 12-17, is yearning for a record 13th national title on Saturday. His maiden national title arrived in 2009. The 2015 world champion in javelin throw is the only other African to have won the Commonwealth Games title after Marius Corbett of South Africa at the 1998 championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Omanyala had hoped to stay in Europe and prepare for Paris and Monaco Diamond League races, and Yego was hoping to skip the national championships and compete in Doha Diamond League Meeting on Friday, but their Kenya Police team management compelled them to show up at Nyayo National Stadium for the national championships.
After competing in Doha on Friday, Yego will take the next flight to Nairobi.
Kenya's Wyclife Kinyamal Kisasy (left) competes in the men's 800m heats during the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 20, 2022.
Photo credit: Jewel Samad | AFP
Kinyamal, who not only defended his Commonwealth Games 800m title but also won a double in the 2022 championship in Birmingham, is chasing a hat-trick of titles.
Since the 1970 Games that have been categorised as the modern era Games, Kenyans has led in the medals table in 10 out of 14 editions.
“I won the 800m at the last two editions of the competition with a lower back problem that has refused to go away, but I would love an opportunity to win hat-trick of titles this year in Glasgow,” Kinyamal said.
On Thursday, Kinyamal finished second in his 800m heat in one minute, 50.69 seconds to qualify for Friday’s semi-final race behind Larry Melin.
Middle distance runner Wycliffe Kinyamal, sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala and javelin thrower Julius Yego are hoping to nail down team places in the Kenyan trials for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Photo credit: File
Mary Moraa (women’s 800m), Beatrice Chebet and Jackline Chepkoech (women’s 3,000m steeplechase) will not defend their respective Commonwealth Games titles.
Moraa, who has had only weeks of training after recovering from an ailment, will compete in the 400m. Chebet is currently on maternity break, while Chepkoech is not competing in the trials.
In Moraa’s absence, all eyes will be on world 800m champion Lillian Odira.
