Omurwa sets sights on glory in first international outing in China.

Isaac Omurwa (R) with his elder brother Ferdinand Omanyala in a previous AK meeting/ FILE

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Isaac Omurwa is ready to step out of his big brother’s shadow and into the global spotlight when he features in his first international outing at the World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, this weekend.

The 21-year-old speedster, younger brother to Africa’s sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala, is part of a formidable six-man 4x100m sprint squad unveiled for the global relay showdown.

The team features a mix of experience and raw talent, with Omanyala, Meshack Babu, former national record holder Mark Otieno, Moses Wasike and Steve Onyango completing the lineup.

Omurwa, the youngest member of the 4x100m team, is thrilled to make his first senior outing. “The camp has been good. The coaches and athletes have been cooperative. I can’t complain,” Omurwa said.

Despite it being his first international outing, he already has one eye on the World Championships in Tokyo this September.

Training with sprinting old guards has wet his appetite for glory and is already thinking about the September World championships in Tokyo.

"We have hopes that we will bring back good results from China. The target for all the athletes is qualification for the World Championships in Tokyo," he added.

Only the top 14 teams in Guangzhou will earn automatic qualification to Tokyo.

Two more slots will be filled based on global rankings, rounding off the elite 16-team field for the September showdown.

Omurwa views his debut as more than just a race—it’s a learning curve and a stepping stone.

“This is my first World (Relay) Championships and I am happy about it. I have a lot of expectations, what to see, what to do," he said.

Omurwa’s build-up to the relays has been impressive.

He launched his 2025 season with a third-place finish at the second Athletics Kenya weekend meet at Thika Stadium, clocking 10.2 seconds behind Dennis Mwai (10.2) and Boniface Mweresa (10.1) on a marram track.

He followed it up with a win at the Betika BingwaFest Nairobi edition, outsprinting Mwai in 10.2 with Mwai clocking 10.3.

Omurwa continued his fine form with a third-place finish at the Uganda National Trials in Kampala, stopping the clock at 10.62 behind Omanyala (10.09) and Babu (10.41).

He further helped Kenya clinch victory in the 4x100m relay in Uganda, combining with Omanyala, Justine Isaboke and Babu to post 39.50 seconds.

Most recently, he stormed to victory at the fifth AK weekend meet at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, winning the 100m in 10.40 ahead of Elkana Sabila (10.48) and Tyson Juma (10.57).

Now, the rising sprinter is eager to test himself on the world stage.

He believes sharing the baton with seasoned sprinters like Omanyala and Mweresa will deepen his hunger for success.

"I will be running amongst senior athletes like Omanyala, Wiseman and Mweresa. These are great athletes who have done great things in the sport. I am looking up to them and they have been telling me what to do and what not to. I have learnt a lot from them.”