Africa's fastest runner, Ferdinand Omanyala, is set to feature in Uganda’s third national trials on Saturday. Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president Dominic Otuchet told Xinhua Omanyala and nine other Kenyans will attend the trials.
“We are glad that Omanyala, who is the fastest athlete over 100 metres in Africa and among the top 10 in the world, will grace our national trials. He will compete in the men’s 100m and the 4x100m relay,” said Otuchet.
The national trials will help athletes improve their performances ahead of various international competitions, including the World Championships.
“Omanyala will also be involved in a programme to inspire young Ugandan sprinters,” Otuchet said.
Omanyala is fresh from competing at the South Africa Grand Prix, where he competed in two 100m races.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games champion opened his international campaign on March 13, finishing third in 10.22 behind South Africa’s Karabo Letebele (10.19) and Erasmus Emile (10.19).
A week later, he roared back with a statement win, 10.08 ahead of Matsoso Tsebo (10.12) and Bradley Nkoana 10.16).
Omanyala started his 2025 season at the Athletics Kenya (AK) track and field meeting in Thika. He breezed through the first-round heats, clocking 10.7 on murram ahead of Tony Wekesa (11.3) and Martin Kariuki (11.5).
He cranked up the pace in the semifinals, posting 10.2 to dominate his heat, with Dennis Nyongesa (10.5) and Clinton Aluvi (10.7) trailing in second and third.
However, he opted out of the final,
where Boniface Mweresa (10.1) edged
out Dennis Mwai (10.2) and Omanyala’s younger brother, Isaac Omurwa
(10.2), for the podium spots.
