10.09s not enough: Omanyala misses out on 100m final in Tokyo

Kenya’s sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala has missed out on the 100m final after finishing 5th in 10.09s at the World Championships.

Omanyala’s campaign came to an unceremonious end on Sunday, September 14, after finishing fifth in a highly competitive semi-final heat.

The 29-year-old clocked 10.09 seconds in Heat 2 of the semis, falling short of the top two automatic qualifying spots.

The race proved too steep a challenge for Africa’s fastest man, as American Kenny Bednarek and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson edged a photo finish with identical times of 9.85 seconds, securing their places in the final.

Omanyala had earlier qualified for the semi-finals after finishing third in his quarterfinal heat.

That race was won by South Africa’s Akani Simbine in 10.02 seconds, with Ghana’s Saminu taking second in 10.09. Omanyala clocked 10.12 to claim the final automatic qualifying spot from the heat.

Despite the early exit, Omanyala remains one of Africa’s most decorated sprinters. He continues to hold the African 100m record and has played a pivotal role in shifting Kenya’s global athletics profile beyond its traditional dominance in middle and long-distance events.

The 29-year-old has become a household name in Kenya, inspiring a new generation of sprinters who now see the 100m dash not only as a viable event, but as one in which African athletes can excel on the world stage.

While his Tokyo 2025 dream ends in the semis, Omanyala’s journey is far from over.

With eyes already on the Paris 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games, the Kenyan speedster is expected to regroup and return even stronger