Omanyala falls short in 100m, misses Tokyo 2025 final
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 14, 2025Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala missed out on the men’s 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after finishing fifth in his semi-final on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
The African record holder clocked 10.09 seconds in his race and failed to progress.
Omanyala had qualified for the semi-finals a day earlier after placing third in his heat in 10.12 seconds. That performance secured his automatic passage and kept alive hopes of another global final. However, he faced a tough field in the semi-final and could not match the pace set by the leaders.
The race was won by American Kenneth Bednarek, who edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson. Both men were timed at 9.85 seconds. Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Canada’s Jerome Blake came in third with 10.03 seconds. Only the top two from each semi-final and the next two fastest advanced to the final, leaving Omanyala outside the cut.
Elsewhere, the first semi-final saw Noah Lyles of the United States cross the line first in 9.92 seconds. Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi followed closely in 9.93 to secure his spot, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine finished third in 9.96. In the third semi-final, Jamaica’s Oblique Seville impressed with a 9.86-second run. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo came second in 9.94 and South Africa’s Gift Leotlela also booked a final place in 9.97.
The results mean the men’s 100m final will feature a strong line-up led by Lyles, Thompson, Seville, and Bednarek, with Tebogo and Ajayi also in the mix. Hughes and Leotlela complete the eight-man field.
Kenya’s hopes still alive
For Omanyala, the disappointment comes after a promising start in Tokyo. The 2022 African champion has often carried Kenya’s sprinting hopes and remains the fastest man on the continent. However, he will now turn his attention to the relay events as he seeks redemption before the championships close.
Kenya still has reason to cheer on the track. In the women’s 400m, Mercy Oketch advanced to the semi-finals after finishing third in her heat with a time of 50.76 seconds. The 22-year-old, who set a national record earlier this year, continues her breakthrough season and will look to challenge for a place in the final.
With Oketch and other middle-distance stars such as Faith Kipyegon still in contention, Kenya’s medal hopes in Tokyo remain alive despite Omanyala’s exit from the 100m.