Ferdinand Omanyala storms to victory at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix

• Ferdinand Omanyala cruised to victory at the Botswana Golden Gran Prix on April 29
• The African champion came close to breaking the African record with an impressive time of 9.78 seconds
• He beat, among others, Letslie Tebogo and American Kenny Bednarek

Ferdinand Omanyala continued with his impressive start to the season by running an impressive time of 9.78 seconds in the men's 100 metres at the inaugural World Continental Tour Gold in Gaborone, Botswana.

9.78 seconds is just 0.01 seconds short of his African record of 9.77 seconds. Home favourite and World U-20 champion Letsile Tebogo came in second with 9.91 seconds, with Kenny Bednarek finishing third with 10.02 seconds.

The time is also the fastest time this year in the 100 metres, pending ratification from World Athletics.

Omanyala has had a flying season so far that has seen him set the national record in 60m, before running 9.83 seconds during an Athletics Kenya meet in February.

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He then headed to South Africa, where he won the first and second ASA Grand Prix but failed to hit sub-10.

His international compatriot Samwel Imeta won the first final with a new personal best of 10.10 seconds.

The 27-year-old will now ramp up his World Athletics Championships in Budapest with Atlantic City games on May 6th before headlining the Kip Keino Classic on May 13th.

Omanyala's wife shares his inspiring journey to stardom

When Ferdinand Omanyala stormed into the semi-finals of 100-metre event of the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, many thought it was a passing facade.

Nearly 18 months later, the 27-year-old brought the African record down to 9.77 seconds, won the African title, and followed it up with the Commonwealth title. Coincidentally, he usurped South African, Akani Simbine in two of the categories.

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In his interviews, he has never shied away from admitting his wife, Laventa Amutavi, has been one of his greatest sources of strength and inspiration.

Sports Brief caught up with Amutavi for an exclusive interview.