Omanyala rallies fans for 2026 Kip Keino classic
By Joel Masibo, April 15, 2026Africa’s record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has rallied local fans for the upcoming 2026 Kip Keino Classic scheduled for Friday, April 24, 2026, at Nyayo National Stadium.
After the event’s organisers have confirmed free entry for the one-day showdown pitting global stars in athletics, Omanyala has urged local fans to turn up in their numbers and support Team Kenya.
”If you miss the Kip Keino classic on the 24th, no excuses, traffic? Not valid! My phone died? Not valid! Overslept?, Definitely…Not valid, just be at Nyayo Stadium on 24th of April,” Omanyala said on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, via Kip Keino Classic’s official Facebook page.
Omanyala stunned
Omanyala was denied a third Kip Keino Classic title after settling for third in a star-studded men’s 100m final in the 2025 edition at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games champion clocked 10.07 seconds in a fiercely contested race, where Australia’s World Indoor silver medallist Kennedy Lachlan stole the show with a lifetime best of 9.98.
South Africa’s teenage sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza claimed second place in 10.03.
Omanyala, who was targeting his first sub-10 of the season, admitted he expected a sharper performance but took the result in stride.
“Ofcourse I expected a faster time but the race is finished now and we move on,” Omanyala said.
“I am correcting mistakes as we move on.”
The Kenyan sprint king was gunning for a season’s best after a mixed bag of results in 2025.
Gabby Thomas and Mercy Oketch face off
Notably, Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas is primed for a heavyweight showdown with Kenya’s national outdoor and indoor 400m record holder Mercy Oketch when the two sprint stars toe the line in a mouth-watering 400m clash at the event.
Confirming the development, Kip Keino Classic meet director, Barnaba Korir, said that Thomas will step up to the one-lap test, opting for the 400m instead of her preferred 100m and 200m.
“We will not be having the women’s 200m. Gabby Thomas will not be running in her specialty; she will be running the 400m,” Korir revealed on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
He highlighted the significance of the 2023 world 200m silver medallist gracing the Nairobi showpiece, noting her star power will elevate the meet.
“She is one of the best female athletes who will be attending the Kip Keino Classic. It is very important that she will be there to enhance the event itself,” he added.