- Omanyala finished fifth in the race
- USA’s Kenny Bednarel was the winner
- Mary Moraa and Emmanuel Wanyonyi also had good performances
African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala says he is not worried despite a fifth place finish at Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, the first stop of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour.
Omanyala, who has won the 100m race at the Kip Keino Classic every year was stunned, finishing a distant fifth in a race won by American Kenny Bednarek who finished second last year.
It was a stunning result for Omanyala, who was the star attraction at the final race of the evening, which was competed in wet conditions.
“We are happy with what we have run today. We have to build on from here because the big target is three months from now; the Olympics. This season we are changing how we look at things,” Omanyala said after the race.
He added; “I don’t want to pick too early in April then go down in the next few months in August when we get to the Olympics. The plan now is to build on and correct as we move towards the big target.”
Omanyala timed 10.03 in his first 100m race of the season, while American Bednarek timed 9.93. Emmanuel Matadi of Liberia also dipped under 10 seconds with a time of 9.99 at second place while Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain was third in 10.00.
Omanyala says nothing to blame for defeat
Ferdinand Omanyala competes at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. PHOTO/World Athletics.
Just before the race, which was pegged as the showstopper of the single day event, the heavens opened, dampening the otherwise electric atmosphere that had been at the Nyayo National Stadium all evening.
Two false starts seemed to have disrupted the rhythm, but Omanyala says he couldn’t blame either the rain or the false starts for the performance.
He now says the next target is the World relay Championships in the Bahamas next month, with several Diamond League races also planned for him.
“My next target is the world relays where my ambition is to help the team qualify for the first time ever for both the Olympics as well as next year’s World Championships. I also have a couple of races planned for the US and in Europe as well before we get to the Olympics,” said Omanyala.
He added; “This time round, there are no targets. We are just taking a race at a time. Life teaches you to handle stuff differently and races can humble you. We are approaching the season differently.”
Meanwhile, race winner Bednarek was delighted with the result and believes it sets him up nicely for the rest of the season.
Bednarek delighted to finally beat Omanyala
Kenny Bednarek at the Kip Keino Classic.
“Last two years he (Omanyala) beat me so third time I was like I had to plan the race well. I am happy about the performance, I am happy about the time. He (Omanyala) is a good starter and racing with him makes me a better runner,” Bednarek said after the race.
While Omanyala had to contend with a tough race, it was an otherwise different story for Kenyan sprinters Zablon Ekwam and Wiseman Were who attained Olympic qualification from the World Athletics event.
Ekwam finished fourth in the 400m, timing a new personal best time of 44.69, one that beats the Olympic Gamdes qualification standards.
In the hurdles, which was a national event with only Kenyan athletes, Were clocked a meet record of 48.57, which also beat the Olympic qualification standards.
“It’s a surprise. I am really delighted Qualifying for the Olympics is such a massive achievement and I really feel delighted. The goal now is to go and train harder to ensure that I am ready,” Were said after the race.
Moraa brings the house down in the 800m
Mary Moraa celebrates after winning the women’s 800m race at the Kip Keino Classic.
Other big Kenyan winners of the single day event included world 800m champion Mary Moraa, who managed to defend her title, much to the delight of the Kenyan crowd.
Moraa clocked a new meet record of 1:57.96, beating compatriot Vivian Chebet who timed 1:58.26. Kenyan-turned Bahraini Nelly Jepkosgei was a beneficiary of the blistering pace as she clocked a new personal best time of 1:58.93.
Uganda’s former World Champion Halima Nakaayi who has been training in Kenya was fifth.
In the men’s two lap race, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi showed why he is the heir to David Rudisha’s throne as he won the race in a world leading time of 1:43.57, beating compatriot Aaron Kemei in a sizzling sprint finish. Kemei clocked a personal best time of 1:44.10 with the experienced Ferguson Rotich coming third in 1:44.90.
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