Track fans have grown accustomed to Kenyans excelling globally as long-distance runners, primarily 800 meters and up. Ferdinand Omanyala, 28, threatens to break that stereotype at the upcoming Paris Summer Games.

In winning the 100 meters at Kenyan Olympic Trials on June 15 in Nairobi, the muscular 5-foot-9, 183-pound Omanyala stopped the electronic clock in a stunning 9.79.

That ranks as the ninth swiftest time in history behind eight Americans and Jamaicans. Usain Bolt of Jamaica holds the World and Olympic records with other-worldly times of 9.58 (in 2009) and 9.63 (in 2012), respectively.

In May Omanyala finished second at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, running a 9.98 to American Christian Coleman’s 9.95.

At the Race Grand Prix on June 1 in Jamaica, Omanyala ran 10.02, finishing third behind Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.82) and native Northern Virginian Noah Lyles (9.85). Kenyans have a rich history running on the highest level.

In 2020 at Tokyo, Kenyan long-distance runners won four gold, four silver and two bronze medals. In 2016 in Brazil, Kenyans won six gold, six silver and one bronze.

The Kenyans have been a dominant force on the international scene since 1956 in Melbourne, their first entry into the Summer Games. A shining moment in Kenyan sprint history came in 1968 at Mexico City, when the eastern African nation won a silver medal in 4-x-400 relay behind the U.S. and ahead of Germany.