Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala re-wrote history by running his first sub 10 seconds on Kenyan soil being smashed both the African and Kenyan 100m record during the Absa Kip Keino Classic at Kasarani on Saturday, September 18th, 2021.
Omanyala’s time of 9.77 saw him smash Akani Simbine’s African record of 9.84 and become the eighth fastest man in history, with Bromell going joint-sixth after improving his personal best, set in Florida in June, by 0.01.
Omanyala also shattered his own national record that stood at 9.86 seconds as he outclassed his idol, two-time World 100m champion Justin Gatlin from United States to third place in 10.03 seconds.
Omanyala pushed the 2015 World Trayvon Bromell from the United States to the line, clocking 9.77 seconds to finish second in the race and record the second fastest time over the distance this year.
Bromell had the last laugh to win the race and improve his personal record by 0.1 with the fastest time this year of 9.76 seconds.
The cut-throat dash, cheered on President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed among other government dignitaries had Kenyans on the edge of their seats as Omanyala once again proved he was a genuine rising star in the race dominated by Americans and Jamaicans.
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