Omanyala, Odira rally home crowd ahead of Kip Keino Classic

Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, and reigning world 800m champion, Lilian Odira, will headline Kenya’s charge, promising fans a thrilling show at the 2026 Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday.

Omanyala returns to a familiar territory, where he is known to record fast times — carrying renewed confidence after breaking a 20-month sub-10 drought with a 9.98 run in Addis Ababa last weekend.

The Kenyan sprint king admits the past period tested him mentally, but credits his support system for keeping him grounded.

“The last 20 months have been crazy… there are those days you just wake up and you feel like maybe it’s time I step out. But thanks to my team  they’ve always been there.”

Now, back in form and on home soil, his focus is clear — fast times and a statement performance.

“We are home and home is always the best place to just start your season,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to go under 10 seconds… but at the back of my mind, I’m looking at the world lead.”

He will line up against a strong international cast including Canada’s Aaron Brown and South Africa’s Gift Leotlela in what shapes up as a high-quality men’s 100m.

In the women’s 800m, Odira returns to competition for the first time since her world title triumph, using the Nairobi meet as a key gauge for her season.

The Kenyan star says the focus remains on gradual build-up rather than early peaks, but assured fans of a strong showing.

“We decided to take some rest… and we came back and still loading  to prepare for this season,” she said.

“ I will be all out at the Kipkeino seeking to defend my title it will be a good show tomorrow that I can promise you home fans .”

Odira faces Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew and Habitam Gebeyehu in a competitive field.

The international contingent is led by Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic and world gold medallist, who arrives in Nairobi in top form.

Thomas is coming off a dominant sprint double in Addis Ababa and will again contest both the 100m and 200m — targeting a repeat performance.

In the 100m, she faces defending champion Maia McCoy, fellow American Cambrea Sturgis and Kenya’s Millicent Ndoro.

She says the experience of competing in Africa has already left a strong impression.

“These small gestures, even welcoming us with music and dance, make a very big difference and make me feel like we’re all kind of unified globally in this sport.”

Jamaica’s world bronze medallist Bryan Levell, currently ranked among the world’s best over 200m, is another athlete to watch. He arrives in Nairobi in strong form after a 9.90 run over 100m in Kingston and will face South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile and USA’s Kyree King.

In the field, Canada’s Olympic and two-time world champion Camryn Rogers returns to defend her women’s hammer title.