Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has been forced to end his 2026 athletics season early after suffering an injury that has ruled him out of his remaining races.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe Kenyan sprint star, who holds the African 100m record, will not compete again this season after sustaining a stress fracture to the heel bone of his left foot.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930301##Omanyala was scheduled to feature at the Diamond League Final in Brussels on Sunday, 4 and Monday, 5 September, before appearing at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, set for Friday, 11 to Sunday, 13 September 2026.However, the injury has forced him to withdraw from both competitions as he turns his attention to recovery.The 30-year-old announced the development on his official X account (formerly Twitter), revealing that the injury had affected his performances in recent weeks and eventually brought his season to a premature end.Big names missing from McCarthy's latest Harambee Stars squadDespite the setback, Omanyala remains proud of what he achieved during the campaign, particularly his consistency over the opening phase of the season."A season to be proud of. Five consecutive sub-10 performances. Closing the season ranked No. 3 in the Diamond League standings and a direct qualification for the inaugural Ultimate Championship," Omanyala said.His campaign also included a disappointing outing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he was unable to retain the 100m title after finishing sixth in his semi-final.Kenya handed major boost in Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars futureOmanyala has now disclosed that the injury had already occurred before the Commonwealth Games, shedding more light on the physical challenge he faced during the championships and the reason behind his decision to end his season."Unfortunately, due to a stress fracture to the heel bone of my left foot, sustained two weeks before the Commonwealth Games, I won't be able to compete in my final two races of the season. Not quite the finish we had planned, but there is so much from this season to celebrate and be grateful for," Omanyala added.Kenyan teenager marks Harambee Stars call up with debut goal in England
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