Omanyala turns to Italian cuisine as he looks to bring down Kerley in Paris

Ferdinand Omanyala is leaving nothing to chance and has even embraced Italian cuisine as he prepares for a third straight Diamond League meeting with Fred Kerley in Paris, France on Friday.

Africa’s fastest man has been training in Italy ahead of Friday’s showdown where he will take on Kerley again after the American handed him his first defeat of the season in Rabat before doing the same in Florence last week.

On both occasions, Omanyala clocked 10.05 to finish third in Rabat behind Kerley and South African Akani Simbine before improving to second in Florence behind the American world champion.

The 26-year-old has pitched camp in Italy where he is intensifying his training as he looks to get one over the American.

“I am training here in Italy and it feels like my second home,” Omanyala told Nation on Monday.

His team manager Marcel Viljoen explained how the Commonwealth Games champion has embraced life in Italy where he is even digging into the local cuisine away from his favourite Kenyan servings.

“He is really enjoying it here, he loves the food and the hospitality here. He ran an easy race in Lucca and has few days to rest before we travel to France,” Viljoen said, in refence to Omanyala’s participation in the International Meeting Citta’Di Sanova in Lucca on Sunday, where he clocked a meet record 10.13 to win, ahead of Cuban Yenns Fernandez (10.26) and South African Rivaldo Roberts (10.33).

He added: “Team Omanyala is relaxed and enjoying the journey. He loves pasta, focaccia (over-baked bread), chicken and fish. Lots of different pastas and also nice bread.”

Omanyala’s management feels he already has the focus as he looks to stay in top shape ahead of the World Championships in Budapest in August.