Omanyala targets sub-10 showing in Kip Keino Classic headline act
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 31.05.25. | 08:48
Also on his plate will be an atonement for last year's fifth-place finish, and a fierce challenge from South African teenager Walaza
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, headlines Saturday’s action at the Kip Keino Classic at Ulinzi Sports Complex, where he is hoping to run his first sub-10 seconds race this season, and reassert himself amid a huge challenge from South African youngster Bayanda Walaza.
Omanyala, 29, is yet to dip under the 10-second mark this year, but in what will be the last event of the day, he targets to check the time off his card in front of an eager home crowd.
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“It’s my wish to finally run sub-10 this season before moving into my fourth Diamond League race next week in Rome,” Omanyala, a two-time winner of the Kip Keino Classic meet, said on Friday.
Omanyala, leading up to his first-ever 100m race at Ulinzi, finished second in last weekend’s Rabat Diamond League, clocking 10.05, a result that came a week after the Kenyan had shattered both the African and national 150m records at the Atlanta City Games.
Press conference done. Spikes on!
— Ferdinand Omurwa OMANYALA M.B.S,O.G.W (@Ferdiomanyala) May 30, 2025
Let the games begin!!
Kipkeino classic 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/7bYfKQ4Rvi
Now back in home territory, Omanyala’s challenge comes in the shape of atoning a fifth-place finish at Nyayo Stadium last year, while fending off the rabble-rousing Walaza, who this week threw a spanner in the works of a home party, claiming he was “fearless” and “I don't line up to come second.”
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In now typical fashion, Omanyala turned that talk around to instead heap praise on the budding teenager, while stressing on his need to remain focused on the main thing.
“I understand, the kid is excited and he has the time, and I don’t want to get into a conversation between him and me because there are eight lanes and we can’t start focusing on only the two of us,” the Commonwealth Games champion said.
“Everyone who lines up is tough; no weaklings. You can’t look down upon anyone. It happened to me,” Omanyala said, referencing last year’s aforementioned event in the rain.
He will hope the weather does not screw him up again, and heeds his call for a “showstopper.”
Other notable challengers in the 1752 hrs race include: South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi, Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy, and Kenya’s own Mark Odhiambo.
