Africa’s fastest 100m sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala lit up the Nyayo National Stadium with a commanding victory in the 100m at the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour on Friday.
Omanyala, the Commonwealth Games champion, gave Kenyans a night to remember as he dazzled his home fans with a good show that sent the crowd into sonorous cheers.
Being the marquee event, the men’s 100m sprint started with huge expectations among fans and piled pressure on the competitors. But Omanyala started with a slower pace and stepped up the pace as he headed home for his spectacular 9.96 seconds - another season best mark.
His win follows last weekend’s triumph at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix last weekend where he dashed to 9.98 seconds, which was a season best. He emerged as the only sub-10 seconds sprinter in the race, which was the last event in the 2026 show.
“Definitely I wanted a sub-10 seconds. I am looking for a world lead soon. I’m excited and relieved about that race because we have lost it twice in a row. It was just important to get it back,” said Omanyala.
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“Today was spectacular. I felt like a night runner but it was really good.”
Odira hit the 400m mark in 56.47 before Gatechew took charge with less than 200m to go as the Ethiopian clocked 1:58.79 to win.
Omanyala was the only podium finisher from last year where he placed third. Rivaldo Roberts of South Africa finished second in 10.12s while Canadian Aaron Brown (10.15s) came in third.
Brown, who is a relay star who helped his country to claim the 4x100m title at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, was among favourites. He was in the quartet that delivered victory at the 2022 World Championships.
Last year’s 100m race was won by Kennedy Lachlan of Australia. USA’s Pjai Austin, a former collegiate champion who is the second fastest this season, settled for fourth place in 10.17s, which is also his personal best.
His compatriot Sam Blaskowski, also a former collegiate sensation, was fifth while another countryman Brandon Hicklin followed in sixth.
Kenya’s Mark Otieno who placed sixth at the Ulinzi Sports Complex last year managed a seventh position while Gift Leotlela of South Africa, a former African 4x100m relay champion, was disqualified for a false start.
Gatechew pulls fast one on Odira
Meanwhile, it was a heartbreak for the World 800m champion Lilian Odira who relinquished her Kip Keino title to Ethiopia’s 2025 world indoor 800m silver medal Nigist Gatechew.
Odira came in second in a season best of 1:59.15 as Ethiopia’s Habtam Gebeyehu managed a career best 1:59.72 for third place.
“Running sub-two in the first race this season signals a better season ahead. My coach was watching and she has noted the mistakes and we will go work on them,” said Odira. “I have a long season ahead and I look forward to running fast times.”
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However, it was a Kenyan affair in the men’s 800m with Kelvin Kimtai Loti ruling to roost in 1:43.63, edging out the African Games 800m champion Alex Ng’eno to second place in season best 1:44.12 as Noah Kibet clocked personal best 1:44.44 for third place.
Gemechu stuns Kenya’s top guns
Ethiopian star Gemechu Godana stunned big shots to claim victory in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Gemechu showed little respect for African bronze medallist Simon Koech as he wore the water and barriers race crown in a meeting record at Nyayo National Stadium.
The previous meeting record (8:17.60) was set by Olympic bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott in the inaugural edition in 2020. The Ethiopian appeared to have tactically reserved energy for the last 200m, where he outfoxed his rivals. Koech settled for runner up spot.
“I'm happy for the win on my second appearance here in Kenya. Beating Kenyans on their home soil made it special. I'm sure we shall meet at the Africa Championships and I want to promise that I will win again,” he said.
Gemechu posted 8:14.55 while Koech clocked 8:15.71 and former World U20 silver medallist Leonard Bett sealed the podium places. World bronze medallist Edmund Serem finished fourth ahead of Ethiopian Milkesa Fikadu while Kibiwot settled for fifth place.
Oketch retains Kip Keino Classic title
Kenya’s Mercy Oketch successfully defended her 400m title The national champion cruised to victory in a season’s best time of 50.17 seconds, just three seconds shy of her meet record she set during last year’s edition at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
America’s Paris Peoples came second in 51.06 seconds as home-girl Mercy Chebet sealed the podium positions after setting her season best of 51.54 seconds.
“It was a good race but very tough. I trained to win, but a podium finish is okay with me. It was a good build up for the World Relays in Botswana,” said Oketch.
Canada’s Rogers, Katzberg rule hammer throw
Canada’s Camryn Rogers staged a brilliant performance to defend her women’s hammer throw title with a meet record of 80.03 metres.
The Olympic and double world champion, who hurled 77.93m last year to win the title on her debut, said the Nairobi crowd pushed her to break the record.
Frenchwoman Rose Loga recorded her season’s best of 75.19m to finish second, while Gudrun Hallgrímsdóttir of Iceland settled for third place with another personal best mark of 73.88m.
Zakithi Nene of South Africa successfully defended his 400m title. The 4x400m World Relay champion had set the meeting record of 43.76 last year but retained his title with a 44.55 season best.
Muzala Samukonga of Zambia and Kenya’s Kelvin Kiprotich stopped the timer at 44.55 and 44.95 for second and third places. The duo set their personal bests.
In the women's Long Jump, Burundian Marte Koala was crowned the winner after attaining 6.77m, finishing ahead of American Tionna Tobias (6.49m) and Egyptian Esraa Owis (6.47m).
