ATLANTA, USA – Kenyan sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala blazed his way into the record books at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games, claiming victory in the 150-meter race with a scorching time of 14.70 seconds, setting a new Kenyan national record.
The win comes as a much-needed boost for the 29-year-old sprinter, who has had a rollercoaster start to the season. Omanyala pulled ahead of a competitive field that included Terrence Jones (14.93s) and Matthew Boling (15.15s), while Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic was disqualified for a false start.
“This race was about making a statement,” Omanyala told reporters. “It’s great to see the hard work pay off.”
Fans had hoped to see a highly anticipated sprint showdown between Omanyala and Noah Lyles, the reigning Olympic 100m champion. However, Lyles pulled out at the last minute due to a minor injury, leaving a void in what would have been one of the evening’s marquee events.
Despite the absence, the event still delivered fireworks.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine stole the spotlight in the 100-meter race, clocking 9.86 seconds to defeat Nigeria’s Udodi Onwuzurike. Simbine’s Atlanta win follows his recent victories at the Xiamen Diamond League and the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, cementing his status as a top contender this season.
The women’s 150-meter race witnessed a world record performance as Nigeria’s Favour Ofili clocked an astonishing 15.85 seconds, becoming the first woman to run the distance in under 16 seconds.
“I’m still in shock,” Ofili said after the race. “This is a dream come true. I’ve been training so hard for this moment.”
Tamari Davis of the United States finished second in 16.14 seconds.
In the men’s 200 meters, Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes triumphed with a time of 19.55 seconds, closely followed by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa (19.63s) and Jereem Richards (20.03s).
Following his record-setting performance, Omanyala is now turning his sights to the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco on May 25, where he will face another elite field.
Omanyala’s resurgence on the track underscores his growing influence in global sprinting and reaffirms Kenya’s place on the map—not just for distance running, but explosive sprinting power.
By Kelly Were
