Ferdinand Omanyala, the new Africa 100m champion

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates winning the 100m final during the 3rd Athletics Kenya Track and Field championship held at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. March 5, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala has been crowned the new Africa's 100m champion after outpacing South Africa's Akani Simbine at the Athletics Championships.

Omanyala bagged gold after clocking 9.93s in the 100m race at the 22nd African Senior Athletics Championships in Port-Louis, Mauritius.

In an interview prior to the race, Omanayala said: I’m satisfied with my two races, heats and semis, now focus shifts tomorrow (today, June 9). At the moment I’m not concerned about my opponents, it’s just the finish line for me.

He broke Nigeria’s Seun Ogunkoya Championships Record of 9.94 set in 1998 Dakar, Senegal.

Only two Kenyans have ever won the Africa 100m title; Omanyala and Joseph Gikonyo who took the title at the 1990 Cairo Championships after bagging gold in both the 100m and 200m races.

Omanyala will take part in the 200m race on Saturday.

Winnie Chebet and Purity Chepkurui bagged gold and silver respectively in the 1500m women's race today.

A total of 500 athletes from 41 countries are taking part in the Championships, which ends on Sunday June 12 at Cote d’Or National Sports Complex in Reduit.