Africa’s fastest sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, delivered a thrilling performance to win the men’s 100m at the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour held at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.
The Commonwealth Games champion delighted home fans with a commanding run, clocking a season’s best 9.96 seconds to take top honours in the marquee event of the night.
Omanyala, who faced immense expectations from the crowd, started cautiously before accelerating powerfully in the final phases of the race to seal victory. His performance made him the only athlete in the race to dip below the 10-second mark.
The victory follows his impressive outing at last weekend’s Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where he posted 9.98 seconds, also a season best at the time.
“Definitely, I wanted a sub-10 seconds. I am looking for a world lead soon. I’m excited and relieved about that race because we have lost it twice in a row. It was just important to get it back,” said Omanyala.
South Africa’s Rivaldo Roberts finished second in 10.12 seconds, while Canada’s Aaron Brown came third in 10.15 seconds.
Brown, a seasoned relay specialist, was part of Canada’s gold medal-winning 4x100m team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the victorious squad at the 2022 World Championships.
The USA’s Pjai Austin finished fourth in a personal best time of 10.17 seconds, followed by compatriots Sam Blaskowski in fifth and Brandon Hicklin in sixth.
Kenya’s Mark Otieno placed seventh, improving on his performance from last year’s edition, while South Africa’s Gift Leotlela was disqualified for a false start.
The 100m race, which was the final event of the evening, lived up to expectations as fans witnessed a high-quality contest featuring top sprinters from across the globe.
Omanyala’s victory marked a significant moment for Kenyan athletics, reclaiming the title on home soil and setting the tone for the rest of his season as he eyes faster times on the international stage.
By Anita Omwenga
