Kip Keino Classic: Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala Beats American Fred Kerley to Win 100m Race

Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala recorded the fastest men’s 100m in the world this year with a time of 9.85 seconds in the Kip Keino Classic held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi on Saturday.

Omanyala, 26, outpaced Olympic 100m silver medalist Fred Kerley of the United States, who finished second in 9.92 while Isaiah Young (10.13) and Hendricho Bruintjies (10.13) were third and fourth respectively.

Olympic 100m champion Marcel Jacobs of Italy was set to participate in the race but he withdrew at the last minute due to stomach illness.

Omanyala finished second in last year’s Kip Keino Classic in an African record time of 9.77 seconds, just a second behind American Trayvon Bromell.

Following Saturday’s win, Omanyala said his dream is to run 9.60 seconds this season and is eyeing three gold medals in the Africa Senior Championships scheduled for June 8th to 12th in Mauritius, where he will compete in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m.

"I promised to deliver and I did it. Bring on the Africa, World Championships and Commonwealth Games!" Omanyala told journalists. "I have an African record yes but I want titles.”

He is also targeting a podium finish at the World Championships in July in Oregon, United States, and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.