- Ferdinand Omanyala is one of the big names that have been announced for the 2025 FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix.
- Several other Kenyan runners including Sarah Moraa will participate in the race that is scheduled for April 12.
- Omanyala opened his 2025 season at the ASA Grand Prix in South Africa.
The African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala will compete in the 2025 FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 12.
Omanyala is among a host of star names that have been confirmed for the event that is scheduled to take place in Gaborone.
Besides Omanyala, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who is the immediate former African 100m record holder, will also light up the event.
Others include Simbine’s compatriot Wayde van Niekerk, United States’ Courtney Lindsey and the Canadian pair of Andre De Grasse and Jerome Blake.
Kenyan born Bahraini runner Nelly Jepkosgei, Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew, America’s Dalilah Muhammad and Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri will also be in contention.
De Grasse is likely to battle it out with home boy Letsile Tebogo in the 200m race. The duo won the 200m gold medals in the delayed 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic Games respectively.
The other Kenyan runners that will join Omanyala in Botswana are Mary Moraa’s relative Sarah Moraa, Nicholas Kiplagat, Justice Kipkoech and Ferguson Rotich.
The trio of Kipkoech, Kiplagat and Rotich will battle it out in the 800m race against the likes of Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela.
ALSO READ: Why Ferdinand Omanyala has received 5 acres of land at Ngong Forest
According to the organizers of the event, more talented athletes from around the world will be announced in the coming days.
The race will take place at Botswana’s national stadium with thousands of spectators expected to attend.
Calistus Kolantsho, who is the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix spokesperson, has stated that more people want to be associated with the event.
“The interest is there and people have bought tickets in large numbers. So, we are expecting to continue our activation with the help of our title sponsor,” he was quoted by Botswana Daily News.
Huge season ahead for Omanyala
Omanyala will be aiming to continue with his brilliant form that has seen him register podium positions in the two races that he has already taken part in.
The Nairobi based runner finished third and first in the recently held ASA Grand Prix 1 and ASA Grand Prix 2 in South Africa in that order.
A win for Omanyala in Botswana will help build his confidence ahead of the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships that will take place in Tokyo, Japan later this year.
ALSO READ: Omanyala starts slow in season-opener in South Africa, Tebogo tastes defeat