Kenya’s top sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala clocked 10.01 seconds to finish third in the men’s 100m at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, the fifth stop of the 2025 Diamond League series held in Rome on Friday, June 6.
The race was dominated by American Trayvon Bromell, who delivered a blistering world-leading time of 9.84 seconds, reclaiming the season’s fastest time from compatriot Kenny Bednarek. Bromell, a two-time Olympian and two-time World Championships bronze medallist, posted his quickest legal time since the 2022 U.S. Nationals, where he ran 9.81.
Cameroonian sprinter Emmanuel Eseme came second in a season’s best of 9.99, just ahead of Omanyala, who maintained a strong finish.
The Rome outing marked Omanyala’s third consecutive podium in a major meet. Just a week ago, the 2022 African champion also placed third at the Kip Keino Classic, held at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex, timing 10.07 in a race won by Australia’s World Indoor 60m silver medallist Lachlan Kennedy.
Prior to that, Omanyala had competed in Rabat, where he finished second in the men’s 100m in 10.05 seconds, further affirming his consistent form throughout the 2025 season.
Despite narrowly missing out on a sub-10 finish in Rome, Omanyala remains a major contender heading into the next phase of the Diamond League circuit and the World Athletics Championships scheduled for Tokyo later this year.
Rome Diamond League – Final Men’s 100m Results:
- Trayvon Bromell (USA) – 9.84 WL
- Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) – 9.99 SB
- Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) – 10.01
- Brandon Hicklin (USA) – 10.04
- Fred Kerley (USA) – 10.06
