'Ferdy' Omanyala confirms Italy race after blazing Xiamen victory

Fresh from conquering China at the Xiamen Diamond League, Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, has confirmed his next assignment as his explosive 2026 season gathers pace.

Omanyala clocked his fifth sub-10 of the season after winning the Xiamen Diamond League in 9.94 seconds, and will now race in the men’s 100m at the Triveneto Meeting Internazionale in Trieste, Italy, primed for May 30.

The 30-year-old Kenyan speedster powered past South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who finished second in 10.00, while American Trayvon Bromell completed the podium in 10.03.

It was another clear statement from the Kenyan, who had opened his Diamond League season in Shanghai with a close second-place finish in 9.98 seconds. On that occasion, Leotlela edged the race in 9.97, with American Kenneth Bednarek also sharing the 9.98 time to complete the podium battle.

Omanyala has attributed his consistent early-season speed to a refined pre-season programme which he says has elevated both his confidence and execution as he targets a strong defence of his Commonwealth title and a major push at the upcoming World Ultimate Championships.

“Preparation has been solid. We are continuing to build on that because the pre-season work was excellent,” he noted.

The Xiamen victory marked only his second-ever Diamond League 100m win. His first came in Monaco in July 2023, when he stormed to 9.92 seconds to beat Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (9.93) and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (10.00).

Omanyala now faces a packed June schedule, starting with the Rome Diamond League on June 4, followed by the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Greece, on June 13. He will then compete at the FBK Games in Hengelo on June 21 before rounding off the month at the Paris Diamond League on June 28.

Beyond June, his calendar remains stacked with major European meets, including the Monaco Diamond League on July 10, the Gyulai István Memorial – Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix on July 14, the Silesia Diamond League on August 23, and the ISTAF Berlin, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting, taking place at the iconic Olympiastadion Berlin on August 30.