Omanyala takes on Simbine in return to Atlanta

Commonwealth Games 100m champion and African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala is set to renew rivalry with the man he wrestled the African record from, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, during the 100m race at the Atlanta City Games on Saturday 18 May.

His race comes on at 00.20 am (EAT) on Sunday.

Omanyala returns to Atlanta where he set a new African record in 150m when he clocked 14.89 seconds, beating the record of 14.99 seconds set by Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks in 1993, on his way to finishing third.

The Kenyan will be running the 100m this time, up against a stellar field that includes Simbine, Americans Ronnie Baker, Terrenace Laird, Trey Cunningham the 2022 World Champs silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, Kendal Williams, US-born Nigerian Udodi Onwuzurike, the 2021 World U20 200m champion, as well as Jamaican Ryiem Foorde.

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At the inaugural Adidas Atlanta City Games in May last year, the Kenyan came home behind three-time World Champion Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton.

Omanyala had a spectacular start to the race and was ahead of the pack as they hit 100m, but the experienced 200m runners had more in their tanks, piping the Kenyan in the last meters of the race as Lyles clocked 14.56 seconds ahead of Knighton’s 14.85 seconds.

This is the first time Omanyala will be competing in his specialty since losing the Kip Keino Classic race, finishing a surprising fifth place in 10.03 seconds.