Busy schedule catches up with Omanyala as he fades to fifth in Hengelo
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 21.06.26. | 19:20
The 30-year-old on Saturday ran in the Kenyan Commonwealth Games trials at Nyayo Stadium
Kenyan sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala capped off his busy weekend with a fifth-place finish at the 2026 FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands on Sunday, 21 June.
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Omanyala, just hours removed from securing his spot at this year’s Commonwealth Games at the Kenyan trials on Saturday, 20 June, clocked his second-slowest time this season, timing 10.13, in very challenging conditions.
After an aborted start first time out, Omanyala was a tad slow on the blocks in the race ran at a negative 1.8 headwind, gained his momentum midway, but was ultimately not in contention for the win as South Africa’s Akani Simbine blazed away to take victory in a time of 10.07.
Simbine’s compatriot Bradley Nkoana was three-thousandths of a second slower in second, with America’s Ronnie Baker rounding off the podium in a time of 10.11.
Omanyala, who last ran in Hengelo in 2024, was looking to bring to an end what had been a busy weekend for him.
On Saturday, the 30-year-old confirmed his place in Glasgow after clocking 10.00 to win the men’s 100m at the national trials at Nyayo Stadium.
Though he did not dip under 10.00 seconds for a fifth successive race, the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist is still on course for a memorable 2026, under his “season of restoration” banner.
Speaking after securing qualification for the 23 July to 2 August event, Omanyala said: "I've shown this season that I'm in good shape with the sub-10 runs.
The goal is to keep that consistency going and, if everything comes together, produce another fast time at the Commonwealth Games. Representing Kenya at the Commonwealth Games would mean a lot. I know what's at stake because I'm the defending champion.”
After a 2025 season that bore zero sub-10 timings, Omanyala has already hit five of them this year, his highlight being his 9.94 outing to win the Xiamen Diamond League in China on 23 May.
His next race comes next week on Sunday, 28 June, at the Paris Diamond League.