Ferdinand Omanyala/ FILEAfrica's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, will launch his 2026 season at the Miramas Indoor Meeting in France on January 30.
While announcing Omanyala's return to the contest, race organisers said, "We are pleased to announce the presence of Ferdinand Omanyala, record holder of Meeting Miramas Metropole, for a new edition that is going to be incredible."
"Africa's fastest man returns to the Stadium Miramas to defend his status," race organisers said in a statement. In 2024, Omanyala clocked 6.51 for the win.
Liberia's Emmanuel Matadi clocked 6.57 for second place, with Britain's Jeremiah Azu rounding off the podium in 6.59. This year, Omanyala did not feature in the Indoor circuit.
France has, however, been his main stage for the Indoor season, having raced there since 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Last year, won the Elite Indoor Track Miramas meet in 6.52 before his win in the Miramas Metropole.
The meetings set him up for the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, where he clocked 6.56 to finish fourth.
American Christian Coleman won gold in 6.41 with his compatriot Noah Lyles (6.44) and Jamaica's Ackeem Blake (6.46) settling for silver and bronze, respectively.
The 29-year-old will be banking on an explosive performance to set him up for a strong 2026 season.
Meanwhile, Omanayala is keen to defend his Commonwealth Games 100m title during next year's showpiece in Glasgow, Scotland.
“I want to defend that title next year. I really want to get back that feeling of winning,” Omanyala said in a previous interview.
“I don’t want that crown to leave the country."
The Kenyan sprint ace claimed the Commonwealth crown in Birmingham 2022, clocking 10.02.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine settled for silver in 10.13, while Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon clocked 10.14 for bronze.
After a turbulent 2025 campaign, where he failed to dip under 10 seconds, Omanyala hopes to break that jinx when the season starts.
He started the season with back-to-back meetings at the ASA Grand Prix in South Africa, clocking 10.22 for third place in the first and 10.08 in the second.
He won the 100m race at the third Uganda National Trials, clocking 10.09 before a second-place finish (10.00) at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix.
In the Diamond League circuit, Omanyala placed second (10.13) in Xiamen, ninth (10.25) in Shanghai, second (10.05) in Rabat and third (10.01) in Rome.
At the Tokyo World Championships in September, Omanyala failed to go past the semis, clocking 10.09.
