How Much Omanyala, Gabby Thomas Got After Winning at Kip Keino Classic

How Much Omanyala, Gabby Thomas Got After Winning at Kip Keino Classic

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and American sprint star Gabby Thomas delivered electrifying performances at the Kip Keino Classic, thrilling fans while also securing significant prize earnings from the prestigious meet.

Held in Nairobi, the Continental Tour Gold event once again cemented its place as Africa’s premier athletics competition, attracting global stars and offering lucrative rewards for top performers. Omanyala headlined the event with a stunning victory in the men’s 100 metres, clocking an impressive 9.96 seconds—his second consecutive sub-10-second performance after a prolonged period without breaking that mark.

Reflecting on his performance, Omanyala expressed confidence in his progress and future prospects. “It is exciting, man, seeing this progression for me, and I am happy about how the body is responding and everything,” he said. “Another sub-10 is important because it will elevate my ranking going forward.” “The moment I stepped on the track, it was all joy and a little bit of nervousness because I had lost this twice in a row, and I didn’t know what to expect today,” he added.

For his victory, Omanyala earned $5,000 (approximately KSh 645,000), the standard prize for winners in Gold-level events under World Athletics guidelines. The prize structure also awards $3,000 (KSh 387,000) for second place and $2,000 (KSh 258,000) for third place, underscoring the financial competitiveness of the meet.

Thomas, one of the standout performers of the day, delivered a double victory by winning both the women’s 100 metres and 200 metres races. She first posted a time of 11.01 seconds in the 100 metres before returning to dominate the 200 metres with a world-leading 21.89 seconds, holding off strong competition including Cambrea Sturgis.

Her remarkable double triumph saw her take home a combined total of $10,000 (over KSh 1.2 million), effectively doubling the earnings of single-event winners and reinforcing her dominance on the international circuit.

Elsewhere, Kenya’s rising middle-distance star Emmanuel Wanyonyi impressed fans by stepping up to the 1500 metres, where he secured victory against a competitive field that included Reynold Cheruyiot. Like Omanyala, Wanyonyi walked away with $5,000 (KSh 645,000) for his win, marking a successful transition to a longer distance event.

The meet also saw dominant performances in the field events, with Olympic and world champions Camryn Rodgers and Ethan Katzberg clinching victories in the women’s and men’s hammer throw respectively, both registering world-leading marks.

As a Gold Tour event, the Kip Keino Classic holds a unique status as the only World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting hosted in Africa in 2026. This classification not only attracts elite global talent but also guarantees substantial prize money and potential bonuses for record-breaking performances—though no world records were set during this edition.

The strong showing by both local and international athletes highlights the growing stature of the event on the global athletics calendar. For Kenyan athletes, competing on home soil continues to provide both motivation and opportunity, with fans turning out in large numbers to support their stars.

Omanyala’s victory, in particular, signals a return to peak form as he prepares for upcoming international competitions, including the Botswana Golden Grand Prix. With consistent sub-10 performances, the sprinter appears poised to climb the global rankings once again.

Overall, the Kip Keino Classic delivered not only thrilling athletic performances but also substantial financial rewards, reaffirming its importance as a key platform for elite track and field competition in Africa.

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How Much Omanyala, Gabby Thomas Got After Winning at Kip Keino Classic