- Fred Kerley has aimed a jibe at Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, questioning his status as Africa’s fastest man
- The Olympic bronze medallist is one of the fastest sprinters in the world and holds one world title
- Omanyala is Africa’s fastest man, with a record of 9.77 seconds set in 2021 at the Kip Keino Classic
Former 100m world champion Fred Kerley appeared to aim a jibe at Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala.
The 2024 Olympics bronze medallist has raced Omanyala in Kenya a couple of times and come up short.
Omanyala remains the fastest man in Africa, but his performances on the biggest stages have been underwhelming.
How Omanyala set Africa’s fastest time
Kerley, who won the 100m world title in 2022, jokingly made those comments during an appearance on the Ready Set Go podcast hosted by 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin.
Omanyala became the fastest man in Africa in September 2021. He clocked 9.77 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
He finished second in the 100m behind American Trayvon Bromell, who finished in 7.76 seconds, the sixth fastest time ever, per World Athletics.
Omanyala has beaten Kerley once. He defeated the American at the 2022 Kip Keino Classic. He clocked 9.85 seconds ahead of Kerley, who was second in 9.95 seconds.
Kerley aims jibe at Omanyala
Kerley dismissed races held in Kenya when one of the hosts said the Kenyan retired Gatlin.
“Them races in Kenya don’t really count,” Kerley said via Ready Set Go. “I don’t really care, but he already knows what it is.”
The American doubled down by saying he can perform anywhere.
“I run fast everywhere. I don’t run like they said we only run fast on home soil. We run fast everywhere.”
Omanyala’s performances at the World Athletics Championships and Olympics have not met expectations. He reached the semis at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Kerley won a bronze medal.
Did Omanyala retire Gatlin?
TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Gatlin admitted his defeat to Omanyala in 2021 at the Kip Keino Classic forced him to retire.
Omanyala clocked his personal best of 9.77, while Gatlin was third with a time of 10.03 seconds. The American retired in 2022.
