Africa 100 metres record holder, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Olympics and world 800m champion, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, on Friday blew away rich fields to win their respective races in 2026 Absa Kip Keino Classic held at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Omanyala, who timed 9.98 seconds to win the 100m race at the 2026 Addis Ababa Grand Prix in Ethiopia on April 15, 2026, on Friday comfortably won his race in a season best time of 9.96 in a rich field featuring Canadian runner Aron Brown, American duo of Sam Blaskowski and Pjai Austin, South Africa’s Rovald Roberts, and home runner Mark Otieno.
Afterwards, Omanyala told his fans to expect faster times.
“As I said, expect fast times from me this season. I want to run more sub-10-second times,” the Commonwealth Games 100m champion said after scorching the field for his third Absa Kip Keino Classic 100m title.
Ferdinand Omanyala charges past Brandon Hicklin in 100m men finishing line during World Continental Gold Tour Kipkeino Classic on April 24, 2026 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I will maintain the pace at 9.8 seconds at the moment. There is no hurry in Africa. I am just glad that I am slowly reclaiming the form I had in 2023,” Omanyala, who now shifts focus to the Botswana Golden Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Gaborone, said.
Roberts from South Africa finished second in 10.12, while Aaron Brown came third in 10.15.
Wanyonyi's maiden victory
Emmanuel Wanyonyi celebrates winning 1,500m during World Athletics Continental Tour, Kipkeino Classics, at Nyayo National Stadium on April 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
At the same time, Wanyonyi recorded his maiden victory in men’s 1,500m race yesterday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Wanyonyi unleashed his front running trademark style, to hit the bell at 2:39.39 on his way to winning in a huge personal best three minutes and 34.11 seconds, beating his previous best of 3:35.18.
Elsewhere, Olympics 200m champion, Gabby Thomas of US, was in own class in the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour event, triumphing in women’s 100m in 11.01.
However, it was a heartbreak for the world 800m champion, Lilian Odira, who relinquished her Kip Keino title to Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew.
Wanyonyi, who is seeking to upscale from 800m to 1,500m, relegated Olympics 1,500m bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot to second place in 3:34.73 as Munguti Kyumbe timed 3:36.21 for third place.
“I am so delighted. I wanted to test my strength against the others in the race. It was intentional of me to hit the front because I didn’t want to get mixed up in the forest of legs,” said Wanyonyi, adding that yesterday’s victory is a clear indication that his body is responding well to the metric mile race.
“I am going to continue with training with my focus still in the 800m. I don’t want to rush to the metric mile race just yet,” said Wanyonyi.
Thomas relegated Cambrea Sturgis to second place in 11.15, with defending champion Maia McCoy striding to season best 11.18 in third place as American athletes swept the first six places.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the men’s javelin event in a new meet record after hauling a monstrous 89.28m on his second attempt, breaking Belgian Timothy Herman’s previous record of 87.35m set in 2023.
“This was my first gold-level event, and I’m happy for the warm welcome I received. Coming here (as a world leader), I just wanted to prove myself and compete alongside my mentors, Julius Yego and Thomas Roehler,” said Tharanga.
The 2016 Olympic champion, Thomas Roehler of Germany, finished second with a throw of 83.33m, with South African Douw Smit completing the podium places with a season’s best mark of 81.19m. Former world champion, Julius Yego of Kenya, finished fourth after hauling 79.87m.
Diana Wanza’s rise continued at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, the runner destroying the field to win the women’s 5,000m race.
Diana Wanza celebrates during the World Continental Gold Tour Kipkeino Classic on April 24, 2026 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Fresh from winning the 10,000m final at the Kenyan trials for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships a fortnight ago, Wanza raced to victory in a personal best time of 15:28.91. Wanza, who will lead Kenya’s charge at the continental championships in 10,000m, beat her previous career best time of 15:52.04.
“I really want to thank the fans for this performance. Every cheer pushed me even when I was alone at the front,” said Wanza, who dropped the field with six laps to go.
“This is a good sign as we head to Ghana (for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships). It shows I have good speed,” said Wanza, who hopes to win the Africa 10,000m title.
“The title shall come to Kenya with good preparations,” Wanza, who is a graduate teacher by training said. The Kenyatta University alumnus trains in Ngong, Kajiado County.
The Africa Senior Athletics Championships will be held from May 12 to 17, 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
Meanwhile, Rotich Kipkorir is the new champion in men’s 400m hurdles in Kip Keino Classic.
Kipkorir clocked personal best 48.99 seconds to win ahead of second-placed Edward Nginjiri (51.10). Seasoned runner Moitalel Mpoke came third in 51.57.
“I had faith that I would improve on my personal best time from last year. I have been working hard, especially on my technique for clearing hurdles,” said Kipkorir, who finished third last year in 49.17 behind Kenya’s Wiseman Were (48.34pb) and Tisang Kemorena (48.59 PB).
“It’s about being patient in training and leaving the rest to God,” said Kipkorir, who is in Kenya’s team for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.
