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Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala will have to be wary of a strong cast that includes Jamaican Kishane Thompson in the Sunday’s 100m semi-final as top stars search Olympics glory.
Ferdinand Omanyala will have to be at his brilliant best on Sunday if he has to seal a place in the 100m final at the Paris Olympics.
Omanyala has been paired with Jamaican Kishane Thompson, the world’s fastest man this year, Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, the world’s bronze medallist, and Canadian Andre De Grasse, the Olympics bronze medallist over the distance.
Former world champion Fred Kerley, the Olympics silver medallist, is also in the semi-final 3, making it a strong lineup that the Kenyan is up against.
Omanyala exited the delayed Tokyo Olympics at the semi-final stage but is confident of going one better this time and even winning a medal.
“So many things have happened in the last three years. World Championships, Commonwealth Games, a couple of Diamond League wins—I am happy we are here today to make the semis tomorrow [Sunday]. I am excited, so let us see what happens,” Omanyala said on Saturday.
“Once we start the heat, it does not matter, what matters is the medal people will wear on their necks tomorrow.”
The 100m semi-final will take place on Sunday night before the final later in the day and there is no margin for error for the Commonwealth champion given the strong field in the race.
He has the world’s second fastest time in the world this year after clocking 9.79 in Nairobi in June before Thompson lowered it to 9.77 which gives him confidence of a better performance.
Omanyala will be in the third semi-final with the first pitting Noah Lyles against Oblique Seville while the second is also loaded with top talent as defending champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy, American Kenny Bednarek, Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, South African Akani Simbine and Jamaican Ackeem Blake are all in the race.
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