Injury-Free Babu Targets Sub-10 as Kenya Sprint Trio Eyes Glasgow

Meshack Babu at the Nyayo National Stadium as team Kenya refines training ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. 

After overcoming an injury-hit season, Meshack Babu is targeting the first sub-10 second 100m of his career as he joins Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno in Kenya's men's sprint squad for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

A Season Interrupted

Kenya's men's 100m squad heads to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with growing confidence and ambitions of making an impact on one of athletics' biggest stages.

For Meshack Babu, the road to Glasgow has been defined by resilience.

The sprinter secured his place in Team Kenya alongside African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala and experienced campaigner Mark Otieno after battling through an injury that threatened to derail his season.

As his form began to build earlier in the year, Babu suffered an arm strain that affected his performances during a busy international campaign.

"As I was picking up, I got an injury," Babu said. "During the Lefika Relays, I was not in a good condition because I got an arm strain. It gave me a hard time."

The setback came during a packed season that included relay assignments and major competitions.

"As athletes, we have many challenges," he said. "When your body is at its peak and you get an injury, it brings you down."

Back to Full Fitness

Now, the injury is behind him.

Babu says he has returned to full fitness and is pleased with how preparations are progressing at Team Kenya's residential training camp.

"I thank God. As the season was going on, I got healed and that is why I ran very well," he said.

"So now we are in a good condition."

The 100m specialist says the athletes settled into training immediately upon arriving in camp, with the support systems in place allowing them to focus entirely on performance.

"Training is going on very well," he said. "We have gotten enough support in terms of accommodation, transport and everything."

Chasing the Sub-10 Barrier

"My target from the start has been to run sub-10," he said.

"That is what we have been working for all this time."

Breaking 10 seconds remains one of sprinting's most significant benchmarks and would place Babu among an elite group of athletes globally.

He believes achieving that goal will depend on improving the finer details of his race.

His coach has already identified areas that require attention, particularly reaction time and execution out of the starting blocks.

"Sprint is all about reaction and execution of the race," Babu said.

"You can't beat the gun, but the gun can beat you."

For a sprinter competing at the highest level, fractions of a second often make the difference between victory and disappointment.

Learning on the Big Stage

Although Babu has represented Kenya at major international championships before, Glasgow will mark his first appearance in an individual event at the Commonwealth Games.

"I have been to these championships before, but not individually," he said.

"This will be my first time going with an individual event. It will be a different environment, but a good exposure for me."

The opportunity offers another important step in his development as he seeks to establish himself among Africa's leading sprinters.

Strength in Numbers

Babu will line up in Glasgow alongside two of Kenya's most accomplished sprinters.

Omanyala remains the country's biggest medal hope in the event, while Otieno brings valuable experience from years on the international circuit.

For Babu, the trio's strength lies not only in individual talent but also in their willingness to support one another.

"We are Team Kenya," he said.

"We need each other's support so that we bring the name of our country high."

The camaraderie reflects a broader shift within Kenyan sprinting, a discipline that has grown significantly in profile over the past decade.

Looking Beyond Glasgow

While Glasgow is the immediate target, Babu's ambitions extend much further.

The Commonwealth Games form part of a longer journey that includes future World Championships and, ultimately, the Olympic Games.

"I have been to the World Championships. I'm going to the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"The big target is the Olympics."

For now, however, his focus remains on Glasgow and the pursuit of a time that has eluded him so far.

Injury-free and back in form, Babu believes he is moving in the right direction.

If he can finally break the 10-second barrier, Glasgow could mark the next chapter in both his career and Kenya's growing sprint story.