Five Kenyan sprinters headline first-ever Addis Ababa Grand Prix
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 18.04.26. | 10:29
The showpiece marks a historic moment as Ethiopia hosts its first-ever one-day meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar
Kenyan sprint power will be on full display as the Addis Ababa Grand Prix takes center stage on Saturday, 18 April, with Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, leading a strong contingent in Ethiopia.
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Omanyala headlines a Kenyan lineup that also features Mark Otieno, Isaac Omurwa, Samuel Chege and Zablon Ekwam.
The Addis Ababa showpiece marks a historic moment as Ethiopia hosts its first-ever one-day meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar, part of a packed two-week stretch of elite competitions across Africa ahead of the World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.
Omanyala arrives in a confident mood after opening his 2026 season with victory at the Cape Milers Meeting in South Africa, clocking 10.19 seconds to finish ahead of Ubay Arend and Keegan Van Der Merwe. The performance signalled a promising return to competition as he looks to sharpen his form.
“The opening of my season was good. I felt stronger, and I’m just feeling like I want to compete, so looking forward to seeing how this is going to turn out,” Omanyala said.
Currently ranked 15th in the world, the reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion is targeting consistency, particularly a return to sub-10-second performances. His last dip below that mark came at the Silesia Diamond League in August 2024, where he ran 9.88 seconds for second place.
Beyond Addis Ababa, Omanyala faces a demanding schedule that includes the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 26, and the Simbine Classic on April 28.
“I’m glad that we are a couple of sprinters from Kenya here,” he added.
The Addis Ababa Grand Prix will also feature an array of global stars, including the USA’s triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, who won 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
She will be joined by compatriot Dalilah Muhammad and France’s Cyréna Samba-Mayela.
Organisers expect around 30,000 fans to attend the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, reflecting rising enthusiasm for top-tier athletics on the continent.
The countdown is on for the Addis Ababa Grand Prix. Witness history in the Land of Origins as the world’s best converge at the heart of the capital.
— Land of Origins (@Landoforigins) April 17, 2026
Be part of the legacy. See you at the finish line! 🏁✨ https://t.co/u7Kpg7ZaFz
#LandOfOrigins #Ethiopia #AddisGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/YiqrQgImNq
The event will be streamed live on World Athletics Inside Track from 12:45 GMT (3:45 PM EAT) and broadcast locally on Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN).
Attention will then shift to Nairobi, where Canada’s Olympic and world hammer champion Camryn Rogers is set to defend her title at the Kip Keino Classic, having already thrown a North American record 81.13m earlier this season.
Further down the circuit, the Botswana Golden Grand Prix will see Thomas and Muhammad line up again alongside stars such as Canada’s Andre De Grasse, South Africa’s world 400m record-holder Wayde van Niekerk, and Omanyala.
Meanwhile, the Simbine Classic promises an exciting 300m clash featuring Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga against South Africa’s Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay.
With athletes from at least 30 countries expected across the upcoming Continental Tour meets, the expansion of the circuit highlights growing investment in African athletics. The series, divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Challenger levels, offers competitors valuable world ranking points while competing closer to home.