Confident Omanyala promises fireworks at Kip Keino Classic set for Kasarani

Kenya’s sprinting sensation Ferdinand Omanyala has promised fireworks in the fourth edition of the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour set to be staged at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani this Saturday 13 May 2023.

With the race coming just days after yet another record-breaking feat where the continent’s fastest man and the reigning Commonwealth champion clocked 14.89 seconds at the inaugural Adidas Atlanta City Games to break a thirty-year-old 150m African record set by Frankie Fredericks of Namibia in 1993 (14.99s), Omanyala has promised to unleash his best race in front of home fans on Saturday.

Omanyala breaks 30-year 150m African Record in Atlanta

“13 May we are going for the Kip Keino Classic and you do not want to miss it because this is the year we are going to break records. Trust me when I tell you we are going to break them because this is the year we have to hit hard since later on we are going for the World Championships title and we have to start it at home.

So Kenyans please, come and watch it live on the stands because I promise a show. When I promise a show, I do promise a show. I welcome the world to come and compete with me so bring yourself and let us enjoy a moment that you may never witness in your life again. The entrance is absolutely is free,” he posted in a video.

Omanyala has participated in four other races since the starting his outdoor season this year.

He kicked off his outdoor season with a world-leading time of 9.81 at the second Athletics Kenya weekend meet in Nairobi but the time did not stand having been adjudged to have had a faulty wind reading.

From then on, he struggled to dip under ten seconds in his two races in South Africa where he posted 10.12 and 10.15 in the first and second edition of the ASA Grand Prix respectively.

Up against a star-studded field at the Botswana Continental Gold Tour meeting held in Gaborone on Saturday 29 April, he dipped below ten seconds to win the 100m in a world lead time of 9.78s before competing in Atlanta, USA.

In the Saturday race, Omanyala is expected to face competition from USA’s World silver medalist Kenny Bednarek, the world 4x100m relay champion Jerome Blake of Canada and the world 100m silver medalist Marvin Bracy of the United States

The sprinting ace will be looking to defend the crown in 2022 when he clocked 9.85s to win ahead of Fred Kerley (9.92s) and Isaiah Young (10.13s).

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