Africa’s fastest 100m sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala lit up the Nyayo National Stadium with a commanding victory in the 100m at the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour on Friday.
Omanyala, the Commonwealth Games champion, gave Kenyans a night to remember as he dazzled his home fans with a good show that sent the crowd into sonorous cheers.
Being the marquee event, the men’s 100m sprint started with huge expectations among fans and piled pressure on the competitors.
But Omanyala started with a slower pace and stepped up the pace as he headed home for his spectacular 9.96 seconds– another season best mark.
His win follows last weekend’s triumph at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix last weekend where dashed to 9.98 seconds, which was a season best.
He emerged as the only sub-10 seconds sprinter in the race, which was the last event in the 2026 show.
“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,” Omanyala said. He added: “Today was spectacular. I felt like a night runner but it was really good.”
Omanyala was the only podium finisher from last year where he placed third.
Rivaldo Roberts of South Africa finished second in 10.12s while Canadian Aaron Brown (10.15s) came in third.
Brown, who is a relay star who helped his country to claim the 4x100m title at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, was among favourites. He was in the quartet that delivered victory at the 2022 World Championships.
Last year’s 100m race was won by Kennedy Lachlan of Australia. USA’s Pjai Austin, a former collegiate champion who is the second fastest this season, settled for fourth place in 10.17s, which is also his personal best.
His compatriot Sam Blaskowski, also a former collegiate sensation, was fifth while another countryman Brandon Hicklin followed in sixth.
Kenya’s Mark Otieno who placed sixth at the Ulinzi Sports Complex last year managed a seventh position while Gift Leotlela of South Africa, a former African 4x100m relay champion, was disqualified for a false start.
Kenya’s Mercy Oketch successfully defended her 400m title.
The national champion cruised to victory in a season’s best time of 50.17 seconds, just three seconds shy of her meet record she set during last year’s edition at Ulinzi Sports Complex. America’s Paris Peoples came second in 51.06 seconds as home-girl Mercy Chebet sealed the podium positions after setting her season best of 51.54 seconds.
“It was a good race but very tough. I trained to win, but a podium finish is okay with me. It was a good build up for the World Relays in Botswana,” said Oketch.