For the second consecutive year, Commonwealth 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala fell short of victory at the Absa Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour Gold event, finishing third in the men’s 100m final held Saturday at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Omanyala clocked 10.07 seconds—an improvement from his fifth-place finish in last year’s edition at Nyayo Stadium—but it wasn’t enough to clinch the top spot.
Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy stormed to victory with a personal best of 9.98 seconds, while South African teenage sensation Bayanda Walaza claimed second place in 10.03 seconds.
Despite the result, Omanyala remained optimistic, turning his focus to the upcoming Rome Diamond League.
Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy won the race.
“I’m looking forward to posting better times,” he said. “My next race will be at the Rome Diamond League next week.”
Walaza, thrilled by the experience, praised the Kenyan crowd and promised a return.
“I felt great—it was a strong lineup and felt like a real championship,” he said. “The energy from the Kenyan fans was amazing. I’ll definitely be back next year.”
