Ferdinand Omanyala has become the first ever Kenyan in 60 years to win the Commonwealth Games 100m title.
Omanyala powered home in a time of 10.02secs to clinch his first ever global title on Wednesday 03.08.2022 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after reaching the semis in his previous three attempts.
Seraphino Antao was the first and only Kenyan to win the 100m sprint at the Club games in 1962, when the race was 100 yards (Approx 91.44m)
The Kenyan beat the defending champion Akani Simbine who timed 10.13secs to clinch silver while Sri Lankan Yupun Abeykoon settled for bronze in 10.14secs.
Omanyala has now clinched a medal in his first ever final, having missed out at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Indoor Championships and the World Championships last month, in Eugene, Oregon, where he where he arrived just three hours to his race.
He took to social media to announce the historic win saying, “The African champion is now the Commonwealth champion.”
In another post, Omanyala quoted the Bible as he thanked God and fans for the support he has garnered thus far.
Kenyans on social media could not hide their joy as they congratulated the fastest man in the continent.
Here are some of the congratulatory messages.
