- The Africa Athletics Championship started Wednesday in Mauritius
- Omanyala is seeking his first Major Championship title
- There will be three other finals involving Kenyan athletes
Kenya will have an opportunity of winning more medals on the second day of the Africa Senior Athletics Championships which started Wednesday in Mauritius.
There will be four finals involving Kenyans with Ferdinand Omanyala leading the charge in the men’s 100m final, Maxmilla Imali in the women’s while there will also be Kenyan representation in the women’s 1500m and 5,000m.
Omanyala, who is the African record holder after running 9.77secs at the Kip Keino Classic last year progressed to the final easily after winning his first heat and the semi-final in relatively easy time.
The Kenyan sprint star started off his campaign with a win, clocking a fast time of 10.04secs to win his heat, ahead of Nigerian Ekevwo Raymond who timed 10.11secs.
In the semis, despite the athletes being held for over 15 minutes at the starting block, Omanyala still breezed to victory, clocking 10.07secs in winning.
Gilbert Maseko of Namibia was second in 10.15secs. Only South African Akani Simbine clocked a close time as he timed 10.09secs in winning the third semi-final heat.
Imali meanwhile timed 11.50secs to qualify from her heat in the women’s race after finishing second. In the semis, Imali did not finish in the top two but her third place time of 11.26secs was enough to earn her a non-automatic qualification time.
“It was a really good start to the Championship and I was pleased with the performance in the first two races. Now we have the focus on the final and I hope to run a good time and also win the gold medal. This is something that I have been really working on and I hope I achieve it,” the 26-year old Kenyan said.
He will also have his eyes on the Championship record of 9.93secs set by Nigerian Sean Ogunkoya in 1998 at the Championships that were staged in Dakar.
At the same time, Kenya will have an opportunity of bagging medals in four events with the women’s 100m, 5,000m and 1500m final also scheduled for today.
In the 1500m women’s final, Kenya’s charge will have Purity Chepkirui and the seasoned Winny Chebet while Caroline Nyaga and Beatrice Chebet lead the charge in the women’s 5,000m final.
Nicholas Kiplagat will be Kenya’s solo representative in the men’s 800m while William Seewua and Team Captain Collins Omae line up in the men’s 400m semis. Veronica Mutua and Jacinta Shikanda line up in the women’s 400m semis.
Kenya has one medal after the opening day of the Championship on Wednesday after Abraham Longosiwa won bronze in the men’s 10,00om after clocking 29:23.02.
Compatriot Julius Kipkwony was fourth in a time of 29:24.41.
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