By Athletics Kenya Media Team
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, will be hunting down the fastest time in the world this year when he explodes out of the blocks in the 100m at the Kip Keino Classic on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Nyayo Stadium.
The current world-leading mark stands at 9.89 seconds, set by Collen Kebinatshipi at the Botswana National Championships on April 3.
“Now that I have built up momentum, I have to stand on business at the Kip Keino,” Omanyala said.
“I am hoping for a sub-10-second race, but at the back of my mind, I am looking at the world lead.”
What is Omanyala’s fastest time in 2026?
The Kenyan sprint king’s confidence has been reignited after rediscovering his rhythm at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where the 2022 Commonwealth Games 100m champion dipped under the coveted 10-second barrier for the first time in nearly two years, clocking a reassuring 9.98.
It marked a sharp turnaround from a turbulent previous campaign that saw him struggle for fluency both on the domestic circuit and the global stage.
“When we started last season, I had an injury, and I was struggling in training, running some very weird times,” he admitted.
“For those who saw me running in Ethiopia, they could see I have my smile back, so now it’s just about building on that.”
Omanyala’s message to rivals ahead of Kip Keino Classic showdown
And in trademark fashion, Omanyala has fired an early warning shot to his rivals; this will be a race run on his terms.
“I respect all the athletes who have come out, but the race is not about them. It’s about running and chasing the finish line. Whoever comes, we will go head-on.”
A return to the guidance of Duncan Ayiemba has also proven pivotal in his resurgence, with the sprinter crediting the reunion for sharpening his edge.
“Dan is the right doctor for me. We have worked together for a couple of years, so I thought it wise to go back to the drawing board.”
The pair have since fine-tuned key elements of his race execution to ensure he keeps pace with an ever-evolving sprint landscape.
“A couple of things have been put together. The world is also evolving, and we have to move with it.”
“The team is working around the clock to ensure we get back on top.”
Omanyala also took a moment to reflect on his deep-rooted connection with the Kip Keino Classic, a meet that has shaped his rise on the global sprint scene.
“It’s six years since I got into the professional setting, and it’s here at Kip Keino that I got the African record.”
“I have been using it as a growth tool for me, and I am looking forward to running as many Kip Keinos as I can.”
Omanyala’s past performance at Kip Keino Classic
It was at the 2021 edition that he announced himself to the world, blazing to an African record 9.77 seconds to finish second behind Trayvon Bromell (9.76).
He returned in 2022 with authority, storming to victory in 9.85 ahead of American heavyweights Fred Kerley (9.92) and Isaiah Young (10.13).
The following year, he successfully defended his crown in 9.84, once again holding off a strong American charge led by Kenneth Bednarek (9.98) and Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.03). However, recent editions have posed sterner tests for the 30-year-old, with a fifth-place finish in 2024 (10.03) and third-place last year (10.07).
