Kip Keino Classic: Fastest Men in 2025 as Ferdinand Omanyala Battles South African Star
- Ferdinand Omanyala enters the 2025 Kip Keino Classic as the 16th fastest man in the world in 2025
- South African superstar Akani Simbine is the fastest man in the world, but his compatriot Bayanda Walaza will battle Omanyala at the Kip Keino Classic
- The Kenyan is yet to run under 10 seconds in 2025 and will be aiming for a big win at the Ulinzi Sports Complex
Ferdinand Omanyala will take on South African sensation Bayanda Walaza, one of the fastest men in 2025, in the sixth edition of the Kip Keino Classic.
Source: Getty Images
Who are the fastest men in 2025?
Akani Simbine is still the undisputed 100m star in 2025 after a sensational start to the season. The South African is undefeated in the distance so far this season.
The South African, Africa’s second-fastest man, set a personal best of 9.91 seconds (-1.4m/s headwind) at the Botswana Grand Prix in Gaborone on April 12, according to World Athletics.
In that race, he defeated his perennial rival, Kenya's Omanyala, who is yet to run under 10 seconds in 2025.
USA's Trayvon Bromell is the second-fastest man in 2025, with a time of 9.91 seconds (+0.7m/s tailwind), set on May 24.
Brandon Hicklin ranks third with a time of 9.93 seconds, followed closely by teenage sensation Walaza at 9.94 seconds, and Jordan Anthony at 9.95 seconds, completing the top five.
Kenyan record holder and Africa's fastest man, Omanyala, is the 16th fastest man in the world, with a time of 10.00 seconds set on April 12.
The 29-year-old is attempting to right the wrongs of 2024, where he finished fifth at Nyayo Stadium.
It appears Simbine will be the man to beat this year, especially at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
"I feel great, I feel confident, I am happy that I could take the win today and that I can finish this month strong and healthy...It´s amazing to have this kind of competitions in Africa. I wish we had so much more of them. Look at the stands, people love watching sports. It´s really great to run on this continent, showcasing African talent and show the world that we can host great meets, Simbine said after beating Omanyala at the Rabat Diamond League.
Source: Getty Images
Who will Omanyala face at Kip Keino Classic?
Omanyala will be under pressure to perform at this year's Kip Keino Classic at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. He finished a distant fifth in last year's edition, won by USA's Kenneth Bednarek.
Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia, Great Britain's Jeremiah Azu, and Chituru Ali of Italy finished ahead of him.
This year, he is facing teenager Walaza, the 100m and 200m under-20 champion.
He recently won the Zagreb meet in Croatia after helping South Africa win gold in the men's 4x100m relay at the World Relays in Guangzhou.
Other athletes on the field who have run under 10.00 seconds are South Africa's Shaun Maswanganyi (9.91 seconds). He will also battle Australian star Lachlan Kennedy.
Omanyala breaks African record
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Omanyala broke the African record in the men's 150m race at the Atlanta City Games on May 17.
Omanyala won the race with a time of 14.70 seconds ahead of Terrence Jones.
Noah Lyles, the world and Olympic 100m champion, was supposed to compete but pulled out due to an injury.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
