Ferdinand Omanyala Plots Path to World Athletics Relays with Packed Race Schedule

Ferdinand Omanyala has shared the events he is set to compete in as he gears up for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone on May 2 and 3.

Africa’s fastest man has already begun his season, kickstarting his 2026 campaign with an indoor tour that saw him compete at an indoor meeting in Paris, where he finished fourth in the heats and failed to progress to the final.

Ferdinand Omanyala then lined up for the Elite Indoor Track Miramas Meeting, where he booked a slot in the final after finishing third in the heats, before placing eighth in the final.

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The reigning Commonwealth Games champion then competed at the Russian Winter Games, finishing fourth in the 60m final, with his slow start to the season attributed to an injury he had been dealing with.

"Going to the indoors, he was not very fit because he was coming off an injury," his coach, Duncan Ayiemba, stated.

"It was like testing his body and seeing if he could work with the little training we had done. He was not fully healthy, but he was coming up well, and I can say he did his best."

Outdoors, Ferdinand Omanyala has only competed at the Lefika International Relays, and he has since shared the other races he is scheduled to compete in.

Ferdinand Omanyala is set to kickstart his individual outdoor campaign at the Cape Miller Continental Tour on Friday, April 10, marking the beginning of a crucial stretch in his 2026 season.

Ferdinand Omanyala will then proceed to the Addis Ababa Grand Prix on April 18, where he is expected to face stiff competition, including triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas.

The Kenyan sprint sensation will then return to home soil to compete at the Kip Keino Classic on April 24, where he will be aiming to rediscover top form following a series of below-par performances earlier in the season.

He made his Kip Keino Classic debut in 2021, announcing himself on the big stage by setting a new African record of 9.77 seconds as he finished second in the race.

Ferdinand Omanyala went on to claim top honours in the 2022 edition of the event, storming to victory in a time of 9.85 seconds.

He successfully defended his title in 2023, but endured a difficult outing in 2024, where he finished fifth, before slightly improving to third place in the 2025 edition.

After the Kip Keino Classic, Ferdinand Omanyala will line up at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix on April 26 before shifting focus to the World Athletics Relays.