Johannesburg, South Africa. Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, kicked off his 2025 season in style with a commanding victory in the 100m sprint at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Grand Prix II in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The Kenyan sprint star clocked 10.08 seconds to secure his first global win of the year, edging out South Africa’s Tsebo Matsoso (10.12s) and Bradley Nkoana (10.16s), a world U-20 medalist who claimed third place.
Omanyala’s compatriot, Mark Odhiambo, delivered a strong performance, finishing fifth with a time of 10.30 seconds, matching South African sprinter Sinesipho Dambile, who placed fourth.
Table of Contents:
A Strong Comeback for Omanyala
This win marked a significant comeback for Omanyala after a challenging start to the season. At the ASA Grand Prix I in Pretoria the previous week, he had finished third in 10.22 seconds, behind South Africa’s rising star Karabo Letebele (18 years old) and veteran sprinter Emile Erasmus.
However, his triumph in Johannesburg demonstrated his resilience and determination as he gears up for a competitive year on the global stage.
What’s Next for Omanyala?
With this victory, Omanyala now shifts his focus to the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 12 in Gaborone. The race will be a highly anticipated event, as he returns to Botswana—where he famously clocked 9.78 seconds in 2023, defeating 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo.
As he builds momentum for the season, Omanyala’s latest win sends a strong message to his competitors ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. His performance in Johannesburg proves that he remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of sprinting.
For more updates on Omanyala’s journey and other top stories, get more from our Star Sports news section.
