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Africa fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya has taken the gold medal in the men’s 100metre final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK on Wednesday.

The 26 year sprints sensation clocked 10.02 to win relatively comfortably ahead of continental rival and defending champion Akani Simbine of South Africa. 

Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon finished a hundredth of a second behind Simbine to take bronze in a hotly contested finish, with Jeremiah Azu of Wales in fifth with 10.19.

Omanyala recovered brilliantly from setbacks in July which saw him suffer visa issues before the World Championships. Those problems meant he arrived in Oregon, US, just hours before his 100m heat before being knocked out in the semi-final. 

He said: ‘I came here with the sole aim of winning the gold and in the final it was a case of controlling the race from the start.

‘Once I got a good start I knew I would win the gold. When I crossed the line I felt like jumping for joy.’

“It needed someone to break the barrier because there will be so many other sprinters coming through. It will have a lot of impact now that I have two championship gold medals and an Africa record,” noted Omanyala, who has personal best of 9.77 seconds.

He said the Commonwealth Games victory is a big motivation towards next season where he intends to take another shot at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary and later the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“Winning the Africa and Commonwealth titles in addition to setting a new Africa Record in less than one year makes that dream for the world and Olympic title possible and a reality,” said Omanyala.

Seraphino Antao was the first and only Kenyan to win the 100m sprint at the Club games in 1962, when the race was 100 yards (Approx 91.44m)

Omanyala has now clinched a medal in his first ever final, having missed out at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Indoor Championships and the World Championships last month, where he reached the semis in all. Source: KBC

Kenya Sevens dropped to the Commonwealth Games fifth-place playoffs after a 31-0 loss to New Zealand in the Cup quarter-final match played on Saturday 30 July 2022.

With the defeat, Kenya will now square it out with Scotland in the fifth place semi-finals as they hope for a strong finish.

Shujaa concede five

Shujaa headed to the match against New Zealand knowing the task ahead and needed a win to keep their medal chances alive.

They however met a tough opposition that denied them points on board. After the final whistle, Shujaa had conceded five tries.

Kenya defended better in the opening minutes of the game and forced New Zealand to work hard for their opening try. NZ, on their part, exhibited a high level of patience and Ngarohi McGarvey-Black spotted a gap off a ruck and ran past his markers to score the game's opening try. The try was converted for a 7-0 advantage. 

Regan Ware extended the advantage after overpowering his marker on the right wing, and the All Blacks led 12-0 at the interval.

Clark Laidlaw's halftime talk was more effective as New Zealand broke through the Kenyan defence more in the second half. Kenya 7s failed to keep up with New Zealand's running the ball to the left and right.

Ware's second try of the day was set up by Joe Webber, while experienced Scott Curry's got his name on the board with another try. Dylan Collier's final try of the game clinched them a place in the semis

New Zealand face Fiji as South Africa play Australia in the other semi-final. Source: PD