Ferdinand Omanyala claimed a magnificent victory in the 100m event during the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, July 21, becoming the first Kenyan to achieve the feat.

Although Omanyala didn’t have the best start, he showed incredible determination and picked up speed halfway through the race, eventually taking the lead.

Omanyala’s time

His performance was impressive, especially considering the late challenge from Letsile Tebogo, a competitor from Botswana, who finished just behind Omanyala with a time of 9.93, while Omanyala secured the win with a time of 9.92.

Ackeem Blake from Jamaica secured the third position with a time of 10.00, with his fellow Jamaican and 2011 world champion, Yohan Blake, finishing just behind him.

This significant achievement marked Ferdinand Omanyala’s first-ever Diamond League victory, an outstanding feat that also secured his qualification for the Diamond League Final in Eugene, which is scheduled for September.

Omanyala’s schedule

The fastest man in Africa, Omanyala, has an exciting lineup of events ahead. On July 29, he will participate in the Joskolauf meeting in Austria. The highlight of his season will be the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled for August 19-20.

Following the World Championships, Omanyala will head to Xiamen, China, for the Diamond League event on September 3. He will then culminate his season at the Diamond League finals in Oregon, USA, on September 15.

Omanyala’s recent performances have captured widespread attention and earned him well-deserved praise. During the Paris Diamond League, he achieved an impressive second-place finish, crossing the line just behind the World 200m champion, Noah Lyles.

Notably, Omanyala’s time of 9.98 seconds in that race marked a significant milestone as it signalled his return to the coveted sub-10-second range. This achievement comes since his debut in the Diamond League in Rabat.

In Florence, Omanyala faced initial setbacks during the race, but he demonstrated remarkable resilience. Within just 30 meters, he swiftly regained his balance and surged forward, leaving some of the world’s finest sprinters in awe of his prowess.