Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, is gearing up for a blockbuster performance at the Rabat Diamond League after breaking his own African 150m record at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on Saturday night in Georgia, USA.
Just when many thought Omanyala was off form, "the Beast from the East," as he’s fondly known, roared back with a stunning performance.
The 100m African record holder (9.77) stormed to victory in 14.70 seconds (-1.1m/s), lowering his previous mark of 14.89 set at the same event in 2023. He beat Bahamas’ Terrence Jones (14.93) and American Matthew Boling (15.15) to second and third place respectively.
Omanyala's triumph in Atlanta came on the heels of mixed results, including a second-place finish at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix and Xiamen Diamond League, followed by a ninth-place result at the Shanghai Diamond League.
Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles of the USA had been scheduled to compete but withdrew just hours before the race due to injury.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine continued his winning streak in the 100m, topping the heats with a wind-legal 10.13 (1.7m/s) before clocking a wind-aided 9.86 (2.3m/s) in the final.
Omanyala, along with world indoor 60m bronze medallist Simbine, travelled from China to Atlanta after helping their respective men’s 4x100m relay teams qualify for the World Championships set for September 13–21 in Tokyo, Japan.
Simbine led South Africa to victory at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou last weekend. Although Omanyala’s Kenyan team did not reach the final, they finished second in their qualifying round, securing a place in Tokyo.
Asked whether Lyles' absence affected the outcome, Omanyala wished the Olympic champion a speedy recovery and said:
Omanyala is set to make his third Diamond League appearance of the season in Rabat, Morocco, on May 25, before returning home for the Kip Keino Classic on May 31.
He returns to Rabat where he placed third in 2023, clocking 10.05 behind Fred Kerley (9.94) and Simbine (9.99).
“The importance of doing these quality races is that you keep learning and improving after every one of them,” said Omanyala.
“The main thing for me is to come up with a proper model of racing ahead of Tokyo since I have the time to make amends in every race. The major lessons for me so far is to have no pressure and not look back at the races I have done.”
In other events, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, 22, became the first woman to dip under 16 seconds in the 150m, winning in 15.85 (2.0m/s) ahead of the USA’s Tamari Davis (16.14).
Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes won the wind-assisted men’s 200m in 19.55 (2.2m/s), ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (19.63), while the USA’s Lynna Irby-Jackson took the women’s 200m in 22.22 (1.7m/s).
