Sat, 09 Aug 2025 17:45:50 +0000
Kenyan star sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala failed to clock in below 10 seconds once again, competing in the 100m race at the International Josko Laufmeeting in Andorf on 9th August 2025. Despite being dubbed the “fastest man in Africa,” he continues to fall short of achieving a sub-10-second race.
Omanyala had previously stated his ambition to become the fastest sprinter in Kenyan history. As he told Olympics.com prior to the 2024 Olympics, “I’ll go down as the fastest sprinter Kenya has ever had. Of course, my records will be broken, but (I’ll be) the person who came about and changed the notion that Kenyans are only known for long and middle distance. That is what I’m going down in books for.”
The Track & Field Gazette recently shared a still image of Omanyala’s win at the meeting. He dominated the 100m against Arthur Cisse (10.13 seconds) and Retshidisitswe Mlenga (10.14 seconds).
Shortly after the X post went live, track and field fans reacted strongly. One fan commented, “He hasn’t gone sub 10 this season.”
Omanyala’s recent performance is being scrutinized, particularly considering his previous successes. In 2021, he finished the Kip Keino Classic in 9.77 seconds with a tailwind of +1.2 m/s, and had run below 10 seconds in three consecutive races. However, his 2025 season began with a 10.00-second result at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix.
Doubt persists regarding Omanyala’s ability to achieve a sub-10-second run outside of Africa. He had previously clocked in at 9.96 seconds in the semifinals and 9.86 in the finals of the International Josko Laufmeeting – Andorf, Austria (2021), and finished the Hercuylis Diamond League in Monaco (9.92 seconds) and Prefontaine Classic in Eugene (9.85 seconds) in 2023. Nevertheless, one fan noted, “Omanyala this season has been struggling to dash under 10 but all in vain.”
Some fans have questioned his legitimacy, labeling him “the fakest 9.7 sprinter in history.” Another suggested, “This brother still living off 2003 9.7,” referencing his 2023 record. Despite these criticisms, the Kenyan sprinter continues to strive for a sub-10-second race, and fans are awaiting to see if he can break his own record.