Omanyala promises fireworks as Shelly-Ann Fraser drops out of Kip Keino classic

 African 100m men record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has promised fireworks at this year's edition of ABSA Kip Keino classic.

The event goes down on Saturday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Omanyala, the common wealth champion says he intends to break the African record he set during Kip Keino classic in Nairobi, in 2021.

The sprinter did set the African record at the 2021 Kip Kieno Classic, when he finished second in a time of 9.77 behind American Trayvon Bromell, who finished the race one second ahead if him.

"Yes! I am feeling good. The record is going down and I will break it a couple of times this year,” he said.

In 2022, the athlete forced former President Uhuru Kenyatta off his seat when he finished first at the Kip Keino stadium, in a time of 9.85.

Meanwhile, multiple Olympic and World 100m champion Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will miss the Kip Keino Classic, after suffering a knee injury in training on Thursday.

She left the country in the wee hours of Friday, to Milan Italy for treatment.

She expressed her dissapointment at missing the event tomorrow.

“I am deeply disappointed to share that I will not be competing at the Kip Keino Classic. I was truly looking forward to to kickoff my season at one the greatest athletic events in East Africa. I love coming to Nairobi and seeing the fans and people; there’s an unspoken energy you can’t find anywhere else," she said in a statement.

"Kenya was the beginning of something great last year and I’m really disappointed in not being able to run here. I have always gotten so much love here and I know how much work went in to the preparations."

Fraser had arrived in the country early this week, ready to defend the title she won last year.