- Ferdinand Omanyala divulged shortly after finishing third at the Kip Keino Classic that transition into speed is his main challenge.
- Omanyala clocked 10.07 seconds to finish behind Lachlan Kennedy and Bayanda Walaza
- After the Kip Keino Classic, Omanyala is expected to head to Italy for the 2025 Rome Diamond League.
African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala failed to dazzle on home soil in the 2025 ABSA Kip Keino Classic on Saturday, May 31.
Omanyala, who was the favorite to win the Kip Keino Classic, did not impress most of his Kenyan supporters after finishing third.
Omanyala was beaten by Australian Lachlan Kennedy and South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza in the epic race that was held at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
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Kennedy crossed the finishing line in a personal best of 9.98 seconds while Walaza and Omanyala clocked 10.03 and 10.07 seconds in that order.
Ferdinand Omanyala working hard in training to enhance performance
Omanyala, who is yet to dip under 10.00 seconds this year, stated after the race that he is currently trying to fine-tune some of his weaknesses.
According to the Friends School Kamusinga alumni, the main challenge that he has faced this season revolves around acceleration.
“I will go back to the drawing board and correct some mistakes. Transition into high speed. That is what we are working on.
There are things that we haven’t done yet. Now we are going into the next phase of doing them,” he explained.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist will be hoping to be 100 percent prepared before the 2025 World Athletics Championships that will be held in Tokyo, Japan from September 13 to September 21.
Ferdinand Omanyala to shift focus to 2025 Rome Diamond League
Up next for Omanyala is the Rome Diamond League that is planned to go down on Friday, June 6 in Italy.
In Rome, Omanyala will compete against the likes of Courtney Lindsey, Fred Kerley, Trayvon Bromell and Emmanuel Eseme.
100m men results at the Kip Keino Classic 2025
- Lachlan Kennedy: 9.98 (PB) Australia
- Bayanda Walaza: 10.03 (South Africa)
- Ferdinand Omanyala: 10.07 (Kenya)
- Shaun Maswanganyi: 10.24 (South Africa)
- Simon Verherstraeten: 10.26 (Belgium)
- Mark Otieno: 10.29 (Kenya)
- Duan Asemota: 10.32 (Canada)
- Claude Itoungue: 10.32 (Cameroon)
ALSO READ: Omanyala beaten at home as Australia’s Kennedy wins Kip Keino 100m