Omanyala cruises to victory at Addis Ababa Grand Prix ending 20-month wait for sub-10 finish [VIDEO]
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 18.04.26. | 18:07
His performance in Ethiopia confirmed an upward trajectory, dipping below the 10-second mark in only his second race of the campaign, a significant early-season statement
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, underlined his growing form this season after storming to victory at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix on Saturday, 18 April, clocking an impressive 9.98 seconds.
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The Kenyan sprint king looked sharp from the onset, building on momentum from last weekend’s outing at the Cape Milers Club Meet, where he had opened his season with a 10.19-second win.
His performance in Ethiopia confirmed an upward trajectory, dipping below the 10-second mark in only his second race of the campaign, a significant early-season statement.
Omanyala’s last sub-10 run prior to this came in August 2024 at the Silesia Diamond League, where he clocked 9.88 seconds to finish second.
FERDINAND OMANYALA! 🔥🤩
— Staphey Wairimu (@StapheyWairimu) April 18, 2026
With just 6 days until @KipKeinoClassic he’s sending a strong message- CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.
A blistering 9.98, his fastest time in 2 years, at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix.
All eyes switch to Friday, under the lights,on home turf. pic.twitter.com/WkaAc78f3x
In Addis Ababa, he showed similar authority, first posting 10.11 seconds in the semifinal before dominating the final from start to finish to seal top honours.
Meanwhile, Kenyan athletes also delivered notable performances at the historic meet. Mercy Chebet impressed in the women’s 400m, finishing second while setting a new personal best, a promising sign this early in the season.
In the men’s 5,000m, Edwin Elkana, Kenya’s sole representative in the race, crossed the line in sixth place with a time of 14:03.03.
The Addis Ababa showpiece marked a significant milestone for African athletics, as Ethiopia hosted its first-ever one-day meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour calendar.
The event forms part of a packed two-week stretch of elite competitions across the continent, serving as a build-up to the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Gaborone.
With an estimated 30,000 fans expected in attendance, the meet reflected the growing appetite for world-class athletics events in Africa.
Up next, Omanyala will line up for the Kip Keino Classic slated for Friday, 24 April at the Nyayo Stadium.