This archive report was first published on 26 October 2021.
Ferdinand Omanyala, a Kenyan sensation in the sprinting world, has been recognized for his outstanding achievements in the sport. On October 26, 2021, he was named the LG Sports Personality for the month of September.
His stellar performance at the Kip Keino Classic, a prestigious event in the 2021 World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series, earned him the top honor. Omanyala shattered his own national record and set a new African record with a time of 9.77 seconds in the 100m dash.
He finished second in the event, behind American sprinter Trayvon Bromell, who clocked a world-leading time of 9.76 seconds. Former Olympic and World Champion Justin Gatlin took third place with a time of 10.03 seconds.
Upon receiving the award, Omanyala expressed his gratitude, saying, "I have been nominated many times for this award, and today I am happy to win it. It is always good to be appreciated back home for your exploits." He was accompanied by his wife, Laventer Amutavi.
Omanyala also shared his plans for the future, stating, "I am training hard, working on perfecting my start because I will be going for the big boys next year. We have many events like the Commonwealth Games, World Championships, African Championships, and I am certain I will post better times."
LG Electronics' content manager for East Africa, William Kamore, congratulated Omanyala, saying he is a living example of the country's potential in sprints. Kamore also took the opportunity to condole with the family of the late Agnes Tirop, who was laid to rest the previous week.
As the winner of the coveted monthly award, Omanyala received an LG SolarDOM Oven worth Ksh 65,000, a 3-in-1 oven used for heating, grilling, and baking.
