Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, believes he still has enough gas in the tank to shatter his own African 100m record this year, insisting his historic mark remains there to be broken by him.
Omanyala is the reigning African record holder in the 100m, having scorched to 9.77 seconds at the 2021 Kip Keino Classic, where he finished second.
Since then, the continental benchmark has stubbornly remained intact, with only South Africa’s Akani Simbine coming close after clocking 9.82 seconds in 2024. With the African mark still firmly under his belt, the Kenyan sprint king is bullish about lowering it even further this season.
“I still hold the African record, and I believe I am still the one to break it,” Omanyala said. “Others have tried, but they have not been able to break it. It might be this season or next season, but I believe I am the one to break that record,” he told TV47.
The 30-year-old heads into the 2026 season seeking redemption after a frustrating 2025 campaign, which saw him fail to dip under the coveted 10-second barrier in 100m.
He opened his season at the ASA Athletics Grand Prix in South Africa, clocking 10.22 seconds in the first leg before bouncing back with an improved 10.08 in the second.
Omanyala then lined up at the third Uganda National Trials, storming to victory in 10.09 ahead of compatriots Meshack Babu (10.41) and his brother Isaac Omurwa (10.62).
His outing at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix followed a similar script, as he again fell short of sub-10 territory, clocking 10.00 seconds to finish second.
Omanyala’s Diamond League campaign was marked by flashes of promise but frustrating inconsistency. He clocked 10.13 for second place in Xiamen, 10.25 for ninth in Shanghai, 10.05 for another runner-up finish in Rabat, 10.01 for third at the Rome Golden Gala, and 10.49 for seventh in Brussels.
Away from the Diamond League circuit, his 100m races saw him place third at the Kip Keino Classic (10.07), finish second at the Serbia Athletics Meeting (10.25), and claim victory at the Lauf Meeting in Andorf, Austria, where he clocked 10.03.
The inconsistency resurfaced at the World Championships last September, where he failed to advance beyond the semi-finals after finishing fifth in his heat in 10.09.
Despite the torrid 2025 season, Omanyala believes the difficult year offered vital lessons. “2025 was a tough season. It was a season I expected a sub-10; I didn’t get it. It was a season to spearhead me to the next step,” he said.
This year, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion is determined to reassert himself on the global stage.
“This year is all about getting back to the top. It is a season of restoration because I am going to restore everything I lost,” he said.
“I am going into the new season with more confidence because I know the work I have put in.”
Omanyala’s focus will be on delivering dominant displays on the Diamond League circuit while also defending his Commonwealth crown.
“This year is all about getting the rhythm right in the 100m and 200m, getting myself into the Diamond Leagues, the World Ultimate Championships and defending my Commonwealth Games title,” he added.
Omanyala will kick-start his 2026 campaign indoors, lining up for a 60m race at the Miramas meeting on January 30.
by TEDDY MULEI
