Keynan athlete, Ferdinand Omanyala, sped into victory in 9.84 seconds during the Kip Keino Classic held in Nairobi. The sprinter triumphed over other athletes with the best score in the world, even though he did not top his African record.
Speaking after the race, Omanyala said “I’m happy that I got a very good race and the time is nice because it’s a world lead, so we’re just hoping that we break it down as we go on through the season.”
The athlete also disclosed his plan to conquer the World Championship and prove himself at the Diamond League, “the main goal is to win the World Championships in Budapest this year, and the Diamond League Trophy back in Oregon, where I did not have a good competition there.”
US Olympic and 200m silver medalist, Kenny Bednarek, came in second with 9.98 seconds, while World 100m silver medalist, Marvin Bracy-Williams, came in third with 10.03 seconds.
Omanyala thrilled the home crowd and has remained unbeaten this season. He disclosed that his target for the season is to cut his African record of 9.77 seconds, set at the same event in 2021 to below 9.70.
Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa is a Kenyan athlete who began his racing career in Kenya as a chemistry student at the University of Nairobi in 2015. He is known as Africa’s fastest man.
In 2019, he won Kenya’s national title in the 100m, and later won his first international competition in 2022 at the commonwealth games and African Championships in Athletics. Omanyala broke the Africa 100m record when he finished second with 9.77 in 2021 at the Kip Keino.