In Summary:
- Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy won the 100-meter race at the Kip Keino Classic with a personal best of 9.98 seconds.
- Kenyan sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala finished in third place (10.07 seconds), improving on his fifth-place finish from last year.
- Young sprinters like Kennedy and South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza (second place, 10.03 seconds) are making a strong impact on the international stage.
At the recent Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy, 21, took home the gold in the 100-meter race, running his fastest time ever at 9.98 seconds. Kenya’s own Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man, finished in third place with a time of 10.07 seconds, showing progress from his previous performance. The race also saw South Africa’s 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza secure second place. Both Kennedy and Walaza praised the lively Kenyan crowd and the strong competition, highlighting the rise of new talent in global sprinting.
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Australian Wins Kip Keino 100m
Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy won the men’s 100-meter sprint at the 2025 Kip Keino Classic. The race took place at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, a military venue in Nairobi. Kennedy, 21, ran his fastest time ever, finishing in 9.98 seconds.
South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza, 19, took second place with a time of 10.03 seconds. Kenya’s own sprint star, Ferdinand Omanyala, finished third with 10.07 seconds.
While Omanyala did not win, his third-place finish is better than his fifth-place result at last year’s event.
Omanyala’s Steady Improvement
Ferdinand Omanyala is widely known as the fastest man in Africa. He set the African record for the 100-meter race in 2021 with a time of 9.77 seconds.
In this latest race, he was unable to beat Kennedy or Walaza, but securing third place shows progress compared to his performance in the previous year’s event.
Kennedy’s win was a surprise to many, as the young Australian broke the 10-second barrier for the first time.
Walaza also impressed with his strong run, proving he is a rising talent in the sport. Omanyala stated that he is happy with his start to the season but aims to improve his speed during the middle part of the race. He told reporters, “I’m working on it.”
Omanyala is now preparing for his next competition, which will be in Rome on June 6 as part of the Diamond League series.
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Winners Praise Kenyan Support and Competition
Lachlan Kennedy expressed his excitement about winning his first Kip Keino Classic. “I can’t believe it,” he said after the race. He also noted the incredible energy from the Kenyan fans, describing the crowd as “so loud and fun.”
Kennedy reflected on racing against Omanyala, mentioning, “He won against me in China, but I got him today. It’s awesome to run with him and Walaza.”
Bayanda Walaza shared similar thoughts, stating that Omanyala is a “big name” who motivates other runners to perform better.
Both Kennedy and Walaza greatly appreciated the enthusiastic support from the Kenyan spectators at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. They both expressed a desire to return for next year’s event.
Omanyala is a highly regarded athlete in Kenya. People across the country follow his races closely because he has achieved national records and brought pride to Kenya.
Even though he did not win this time, his fans are still pleased with his effort and dedication. He continues to train hard to improve his performance and hopes to achieve faster times in upcoming races.
This competition also highlighted the growing strength of international sprinting, with new talents like Kennedy and Walaza making their mark on the global stage.
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