Kenyan sprinting sensation Ferdinand Omanyala on Wednesday night outsprinted two-time Olympic finalist Akani Simbine (South Africa) in the 100m finals in Germiston, South Africa.

Omanyala clocked 9.98 seconds to beat Simbine (10.11) with Bradley Nkoana finishing third in 10.32 in the scintillating highlight of the fourth Grand Prix meet of the season.

The 26-year-old African record holder, christened "The Beast From The East" caused a stir in September 2021 when he broke Simbine’s two-month old continental record (9.84), with a 9.77 time in Nairobi.

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“My main aim was to run under 10 and I was not competing against him (Simbine); I was running against the finish line," Omanyala said after the breathtaking sprint.

Ferdinand Omanyala. PHOTO/COURTESY

Omanyala was once a rugby player while in high school and conducted his training together with the Kenyan Sevens national team as he prepared for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but opted for athletics, a move he does not regret.

"I’ve achieved what I came to achieve in South Africa. It was a good start to the season and when you run these times at this point in the season then you’re expecting a good season going forward," he added.