Kip Keino Classic: Omanyala Betters Record In Front Of Raila, Ruto [HIGHLIGHTS & VIDEO]

Kenyan sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's fastest man, on Saturday, May 13 celebrated a routine victory in front of his home crowd at the Kasarani Stadium in the 100 metres race during the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour's fourth edition.

Omanyala lifted the roof off the half-packed stadium in the final race of the event to win with a time of 9.84 seconds. This is his best time in the 100 metres race in the 2023 season and the best time in the world in the 2023 season.

Olympics 200m silver medalist Kenneth Bednarek finished second in 9.98 as another American, Marvin Bracy came third in 10.03.

“It feels so amazing to win at home in front of such a huge crowd. I am now focused on my next assignment, which is the Rabat Diamond League.

Watch a video of the race:

NEWS JUST IN: Ferdinand Omanyala wins the men's 100M at the #KipKeinoClassic in Kasarani at a time of 9.84 seconds

????: @marvin_chege10 pic.twitter.com/xzWxZSXAns — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) May 13, 2023

"I know it will not be easy but I will give it my all as I always do,” Omanyala said after winning the race.

The race, which was part of the highly-anticipated event attended by Viral Tea's Marvin Chege, was filled with its own drama after two false starts saw Kenyan Stephen Odhiambo shown the red card following a false start, leading to his disqualification.

“I was ready and my body was good enough to handle the pressure, especially after the false start,” added Omanyla.

The sprinter dazzled special VIP guests as well including President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who watched from the stands at Kasarani, having spent a full day together physically for the first time since the 2022 general elections.

Omanyala also received his award from Ruto, the chief guest at the annual event.

What Viral Tea noticed was that his 9.84 seconds this year was better than his record of 9.85 during the same event on May 7, 2022, which earned him the title of Africa's fastest man, officially, setting the world's fastest time for 2022.

This was Ferdinand Omanyala last year when he won the #KipkeinoClassic with 9.85 seconds.

He's bettered his record ???????????? https://t.co/1T4gdoq9oP pic.twitter.com/gmBSufr22A — Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) May 13, 2023

At the time, he beat Fred Kerley of the USA and Isaiah Young to win the race in front of his elated home crowd, including Raila, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Sports Cabinet Secretary, Amb Amina Mohammed.

President William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi and CS Ababu Namwamba during the Kip Keino Classic on May 13, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

Sha'Carri Produces GOAT Performance

Meanwhile, American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson produced a Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) performance to win the women’s 200m at a time of 22.07 seconds ahead of fellow countrywomen, Kyra Jefferson (22.77) and Shannon Ray (22.82) in second and third respectively.

“I am really elated to have won today. I did it for my fans…Nairobi is just great and a huge thanks to the fans who have shown me love,” the world’s sixth fastest woman in the 100m said.

Richardson was expected to go head-to-head with three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica in the 100m in another highly-anticipated duel but Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the event on Friday, May 12 after sustaining a knee injury during training.

This forced the organisers to shift the 23-year-old to the women’s 200m, as they felt the need to enhance the profile of every race at the World Continental Tour Gold event. 

“Unfortunately, Shelly-Ann will not battle Richardson because she will be running in the women’s 100m while Richardson will be in the 200m.

"The reason why we did that is because we wanted to enhance the events. If we have Shelly-Ann in the 100m and Richardson in the 200m, it will give us more value and points in both races,” meet director Barnaba Korir explained at the time.

Richardson had on Tuesday, May 9 revealed via an Instagram video that she would be competing in the 200m albeit she had wanted to run in the 100m, following on from last week’s Botswana Grand Prix where she was compelled to run in the women’s 200m in which she eventually finished second.

Notwithstanding, Korir explained that putting the two sprinters in different races will in the long term aid Kenya’s bid to host a Diamond League event.

“World Athletics also considers the value of the events that you have. If you want to be upgraded to Diamond League, they’ll look at the results of your events and that is why we thought it wise to separate the two athletes and put them in different categories,” he said.

Whereas Richardson competed in the Kip Keino Classic for the first time, it was to be Fraser-Pryce’s second after last year’s edition where she clocked a world lead of 10.67 to win the women’s 100m at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

American Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates as she crosses the finish line at Kip Keino Classic on May 13, 2023. /TWITTER.BERNARD NDONG

Other Highlights

In other races, former world under-20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi edged out two-time Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal to win the 800m title.

He set another championship record, the second one in his career after setting the world under 20 championships way back in 2021 when he won the world title.

Wanyonyi cruised to a world-leading time and personal best of 1:43.32 and was followed by Kinyamal with a meet record time of 1:43.36 with former world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot closing the podium in 1:44.99.

Commonwealth champion Mary Moraa reclaimed her 800m title at the Kip Keino Classic with a season-best 1:58.83 ahead of Netsanet Desta of Ethiopia and Vivian Chebet.