Kenya’s sprint ace Ferdinand Omanyala successfully booked an automatic spot in the men’s 100 metre semifinals at the Paris Olympic Games after an easy win in Heat 2.
The African record holder, who is looking to get into the Olympic sprint finals at a second attempt following disappointment in the Tokyo Games where he crashed out in the semis, clocked 10.08s to seal one of the three automatic slots from his heat.
“I’m happy that I ran a good race. I don’t feel the pressure, I trained for three years and finished my training in Miramas.
Paris is all about enjoying my race and proving all my hard work, I waited for three years for tomorrow’s race, I have something to prove to my Kenyan people,” Omanyala, the second-fastest man in the world this year, said.
Ferdinand Omanyala
US sprint star Noah Lyles and defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy also safely negotiated their 100m heats to move into the semi-finals of the blue riband event along with a host of top rivals.
Lyles, who won treble sprint gold at last year’s world championships in Budapest, made a laboured start in the third heat won by British champion Louie Hinchliffe in 9.98 seconds.
Lyles, at one point fourth in the running after a slow exit from the blocks, finally came through in second in 10.04sec.
“It felt great, but the job’s not done,” said Hinchliffe, coached by US track and field legend Carl Lewis.
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“I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself. Drive out hard, push, stay relaxed and just trust my race. I don’t really think too much about the time, I’m just trying to execute my race.”
Jacobs, who shocked the field to win Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, also progressed to Sunday’s semi-finals, with the final scheduled later the same session at the Stade de France.
The Italian clocked 10.05sec, made to work hard in the final 20 metres to finish second in a close heat behind Kayinsola Ajayi of Nigeria.
Also advancing into the semis of the 100m were Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson – the fastest man in the year with his 9.77sec – who looked very comfortable in winning his heat in 10.00sec.
Thompson’s teammate Oblique Seville also went through as one of the winners of the eight heats, cruising in 9.99sec.
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke