Kenya’s sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala delivered a powerful statement on the track after clinching victory in the men’s 100m at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, clocking an impressive 9.98 seconds.
The performance not only secured him the win but also marked a major personal milestone, his first sub-10-second run in nearly 20 months.
Running at high altitude in Addis Ababa, Omanyala showed composure and explosive speed, dominating a competitive field to cross the finish line first.
The 9.98-second finish is particularly significant in sprinting, where breaking the 10-second barrier is considered the gold standard for world-class performance. For Omanyala, it represents a long-awaited return to the level that once saw him rise as Africa’s fastest man.
Before this race, Omanyala had struggled to dip below the 10-second mark since mid-2024, despite consistently strong performances.
His last sub-10 run had come during his peak competitive period, and the drought had raised questions about whether he could reclaim that top-tier speed.
Competing in the Continental Tour event, Omanyala faced a mix of African and international sprinters but stood out as the clear favorite, and he delivered.
From the blocks, he executed a clean start, maintained acceleration through the drive phase, and held his form strongly through the final meters to secure victory.
His win headlined a successful outing for Kenyan athletes at the meet, which continues to grow in stature on the global athletics calendar.
The timing of this performance could not be better.
With the Kip Keino Classic scheduled on 24th April, Omanyala appears to be peaking at the right moment. The Nairobi-based event is one of the biggest meets in East Africa and offers him a chance to shine in front of a home crowd.
With major competitions on the horizon, including global championships and Diamond League meetings, a return to sub-10 form places him back among the world’s elite sprinters.
After nearly two years without a sub-10 performance, the Kenyan star has reignited belief in his ability to compete at the highest level.
