Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will go head-to-head with Olympic medalists Fred Kerley and Kenneth Bednarek in men’s 100 metres during the Kip Keino Classic on May 7, at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Making the announcement Friday, Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei noted that many elite athletes are set to appear at the Kip Keino Classic.
“Olympic 100m silver medalist, United States’ Fred Kerley will once grace the event where he will face our own Ferdinand Omanyala. That shows top athletes want to be associated with Kip Keino Classic," Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei stated.
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Omanyala holds the Africa 100m record with a time of 9.77 seconds while Kerley and Bednarek are the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games silver medalists in 100m and 200m respectively.
Omanyala previously in the second edition of the Kip Keino Classic in 2021 finished second in men’s 100m in 9.77, as American Trayvon Bromell finished first with a time of 9.76 seconds.
The Kenyan sprinter Omanyala on April 6 at the ASA Athletics Grand Prix 3 was able to record his season’s best.
American sprinter Kerley 26, has a season’s best of 9.99 in 100m after emerging victorious at Hurricane Collegiate Invitational on March 26 in Florida.
As for the 23-year-old Bednarek, he holds a personal best of 9.89 a record he set last year in Oregon.
Tuwei also noted that as a federation they are hopeful that the World Athletics will upgrade the event to Diamond League status in 2023.
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