Africa-Press – Kenya. Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala secured his second sub-10 performance of 2026, clocking a season-best 9.96 to power to victory in the men’s 100m at the Kip Keino Classic on Friday.
South Africa’s Rivaldo Roberts chased him home in 10.12, while Canada’s Aaron Brown completed the podium in 10.15, as Omanyala lit up the Nyayo track with a trademark explosive finish.
The performance marked Omanyala’s second sub-10 outing of the 2026 campaign. At the Addis Ababa meet, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion dipped under the barrier in 9.98, his first sub-10 clocking in over two years.
He had earlier opened his season on April 10 at the Cape Miller Continental Tour in South Africa, easing to victory in 10.19. Fresh off his Kip Keino triumph, Omanyala expressed satisfaction at once again breaching the elusive 10-second mark, while making it clear his sights are firmly set on faster territory.
“Definitely I wanted a sub-10 seconds. I am looking for a world lead soon,” he said. The current world-leading mark stands at 9.89, set by Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi at the Botswana National Championships on April 3.
Beyond the time, the victory carried added significance as Omanyala reclaimed his Kip Keino crown after a mixed run of results in recent editions. “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,” he added. Running under the Nyayo floodlights also offered a fresh dimension to the sprint king’s experience. “Today was spectacular.
I felt like a night runner but it was really good. ”Omanyala’s Kip Keino journey has been nothing short of dramatic. On his debut in 2021, he scorched to an African record 9.77 but had to settle for second behind American speedster Trayvon Bromell, who edged him in 9.76.
He bounced back in 2022, storming to victory in 9.85 ahead of Fred Kerley (9.92) and Isaiah Young (10.13), before successfully defending his title in 2023 with a 9.84 dash, once again asserting dominance over Kenneth Bednarek (9.98) and Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.03). However, the past two editions proved testing for the 30-year-old, finishing fifth in 2024 (10.03) and third last year (10.07).
