All hail the King! Omanyala runs another sub 10 to reclaim 100m Kip Keino Classic title

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala reclaimed his Kip Keino Classic title in stunning fashion infront of an energized crowd on Friday, 24 April at the Nyayo Stadium.

Download our Mozzart Sport App for more news

The 30-year-old crossed the finish line in 9.96 seconds, marking his second consecutive sub-10 finish in as many races this year.

Omanyala was fresh off a 9:98 victory at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix last weekend, and made sure to keep up his brilliant start to the season with a dominant show on what was Kip Keino Classic's first event under the lights.

Backed by a roaring crowd, Omanyala controlled the race from start to finish, despite two false starts that briefly disrupted the flow.

South Africa’s Rivaldo Roberts finished second in 10.12, while Canada’s Aaron Brown settled for third in 10.15.

In contrast, it was a night to forget for Mark Otieno, who finished eighth in a season-best 10.23.

After crossing the line, a visibly elated Omanyala soaked in the moment, even sharing a celebratory dance with Iyanii as the stadium buzzed with excitement. He was then handed AFC Leopards jerseys by hundreds of fans.

Speaking after the race, the Commonwealth Games defending champion could barely contain his joy.

“I am very excited today. When I crossed the 90m mark, I was feeling super excited. Doing this at home, in full view of these fans, is honestly amazing. I feel so good. Thank you to everyone who supported me. This was massive,” he said.

Kip Keino Classic: Wanyonyi shines as Kenyans dominate men's 1,500m

Omanyala’s resurgence comes after reuniting with his former coach Duncan Ayiemba, a move that appears to be paying off as he builds momentum ahead of a crucial season.

The sprint star is now gearing up to defend his title at the Commonwealth Games set for July in Glasgow, and his current form suggests he is peaking at just the right time. But first, he will compete at the Botswana Grand Prix before leading team Kenya at the World Relays slated for Friday, 2 to Saturday, 3 May in Botswana. He will then take a break before the Diamond League circuit kicks off.

Kip Keino Classic: Gabby Thomas sets meet record after double victory in Nairobi

In the women’s 100m, American dominance was on full display as three-time Olympic champion Gabby Thomas stormed to victory in 11.01. She was followed by Cambrea Sturgis in 11.15, while Maia McCoy completed the podium in a season-best 11.18.

For Thomas, the race served as part of her early-season build-up, with her focus shifting to the World Ultimate Championships after a strong start to the campaign.