Simbine hails "big name" Ferdinand Omanyala for rise of sprinting in Africa
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 09.05.25. | 12:32
Omanyala will represent Kenya in the World Relay championships this weekend
South African sprinter Akani Simbine has credited Ferdinand Omanyala for his role in the global rise and recognition of Africa as a “sprinting continent.”
Simbine, 31, name-checked the Kenyan and Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo as part of a golden generation changing the narrative around the world.
While addressing the media ahead of the World Athletics Relays Championships scheduled for 10-11 May in Guangzhou, China, Simbine labelled Omanyala as a “big name in the sprints”, adding him to his group of rivals.
He told World Athletics: “There is a friendly rivalry between Letsile and me. Everyone wants to beat the other when it's competition time, but Letsile has respect for me, and I have respect for him.
I can see that he is doing very well and he has a great future. I understand where he is at the stage of his career, and he sees where I am at in my career. It's like South Africa versus Botswana right now, but let’s not forget Ferdinand Omanyala.
He is a big name in the sprints, and he has done very well for himself and Kenya as well, so it is not just here down South, but the whole African sprinting story happening now, which is great to see.”
Omanyala and Simbine last faced off in last weekend’s Shanghai Diamond League, the latter emerging victor with a win (9.98) as compared to the former’s 10.25 finish in ninth place.
In the same race, Tebogo, who led Botswana to a historic Olympic Games silver medal in the 4x400m relays, finished third in season-best 10.03.
“It is great that we are being noticed as a sprinting continent,” Simbine said. “This is inspiring more kids to want to be sprinters and not just tapping into long-distance events.”
Simbine however confirmed he will not be taking part in this year’s Kip Keino Classic scheduled for 31 May at the Nyayo National Stadium.
He told Daily Nation: “Unfortunately, it's not part of my plan, but I will consider it next year. Kip Keino Classic is one meet that I have always wanted to compete in.”
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