Omanyala targets historic third Kip Keino win in front of home fans
Ferdinand Omanyala is aiming for a third consecutive 100m victory at the Kip Keino Classic, an event he says played a key role in his rise to global sprinting fame. With the race set for May 31 in Nairobi, Kenya’s sprint star reflects on his journey, recent form, and what the home crowd can expect.
Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has set his sights on a historic third straight victory at the Absa Kip Keino Classic, a meet he credits with launching his rise on the global stage.
Speaking ahead of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event set for Saturday, May 31, Omanyala described the Kip Keino Classic as a race he never wants to miss, emphasising its role in his development as a sprinter.
“The Kip Keino Classic is a very important race, and I never want to miss it,” he said in an interview with the event organisers. “I’ve grown, and so has the Kip Keino Classic. It’s an event that propelled me to the top. People come to Kenya just to compete against me. I invite the world, and they show up.”
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Omanyala has already won the 100 metres title at the Kip Keino Classic twice, in 2022 and 2023. His breakout moment, however, came in 2021, when he clocked an African record of 9.77 seconds to finish second behind American Trayvon Bromell, who won the race in 9.76 seconds.
“I didn’t expect to break the African record in 2021,” he recalled. “That was a highlight. The impact it created is that Kenyan sprinters now have the chance to see top-level athletes compete live on home soil.”
“Seeing these athletes up close and observing how things are done internationally, that’s something our local sprinters can learn from. They can do anything they want and become whoever they want to be.”
Omanyala also reflected on his recent outing at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games on May 17, where he broke both the African and Kenyan records in the 150 metres. He clocked an impressive 14.70 seconds.
“We did the 150m because we had run a couple of 100m races, and we thought it would be good to try something different,” he explained. “This is a season where we plan to run a couple of 200m races, so the 150m was a good distance to test the body - to see where to pick, how to balance, and just to open up the legs for the upcoming races.”
He added that his form is steadily improving as the season progresses.
“My season preparations are going well. So far, so good - we’ve had a couple of results and made the podium in most competitions. We’re trying to get into rhythm with these races, and once we do, I’m sure it will be lethal going forward.”
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