World Athletics Championships: Omanyala sprints to semis
By Joel Sang, August 19, 2023Kenya’s short-race superstar Ferdinand Omanyala has qualified for the 100m semifinals of the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
The Commonwealth Games champion was second in heat two after clocking 9.97 and finishing behind his American rival Noal Lyles, while Nigeria’s Usheoritse Itsekiri completed the podium after clocking 10.17.
Lyles was slightly ahead of Omanyala; he managed to finish in 9.95 as both qualified for the semis scheduled for Sunday, August 20.
British sprinter Zharnel Hughes won heat one in 10.00, as Ryiem Forde of Jamaica and Seye Ogunlewe from Nigeria finished second and third, respectively.
Raphael Bouju, representing the Netherlands, won heat three in 10.09, and behind him was Eugene Amo-Dadzie of Great Britain, who emerged second in 10.10. Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia finished third in 10.13.
Omanyala joins rest
Meanwhile, Omanyala’s progress sums up the day in which other Kenyans sailed to the penultimate stage in their respective disciplines.
Faith Kipyegon, a triple world record holder, dominated her heat and won to qualify for the semis, as Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second and Sarah Healy of Ireland was third after running 4:03.00.
In heat one, Edinah Jebitok finished fourth but qualified, and Nelly Chepchirchir won heat three in 4:00.87 and directly booked a place in the semis.
Purity Chepkirui could not make it to the semis after finishing distantly seventh in heat four, which was won by Meshesha of Ethiopia, as Jessica Haul of Australia and Ciara Mageean of Ireland ended up taking positions two and three.
In the steeplechase race, Simon Koech, Abraham Kibiwott, and Leonard Bett booked their places in the 3000m steeplechase final.