The world number four won his heat in a time of 10.08 to ease into the men’s semis. The semis bring together the best out of the heats, it takes the best out of people.
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will take off in heat 3 of the men’s 100m semifinals set for Sunday 4th at 21:23EAT. The 100m final is also set for tomorrow 22:50EAT.
The world number four won his heat in a time of 10.08 to ease into the men’s semis. The semis bring together the best out of the heats, it takes the best out of people.
“Today was about enjoying it, the moment I got into that stadium I just started laughing because the crowd was amazing. Today was about introducing yourself and feeling the track. The main work is done, good training. So, massage and a good rest after, come when I am fresh tomorrow,” Omanyala said.
In between Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, Omanyala has won the 100m Commonwealth Title, African titles and became the continent’s fastest man.
Tomorrow he will line up alongside Jamaican Kishane Thompson, Japanese Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, American Fred Kerley and Canadian Andre De Grasse. The first two in each heat and the next two fastest athletes will advance to the final
The other Africans in the semi finals are world silver medalist in 2023 World Silver medallist in 100m and 200m bronze medal winner Letsile Tebogo, Cameron’s Emmanuel Esseme, RSA’s Akani Simbine, Benjamin Richardson, Kayinsola Ajayi, Shaun Maswanganyi, Emmanuel Matadi Rasheed Saminu, Benjamin Azamati, and Favour Oghdne Tejiri Ashe.
“It was amazing, it is all about having fun, we will never see Paris 2024 again in our lives, if you are not having fun in the heats, I think it is the most relaxed part of the race. And then going to semifinals and final it is all about no breaks,” Tebogo said in the mixed zone.
KIPROTICH THROUGH TO 800M SEMIS
Still in athletics, Vivian Chebet Kiprotich sailed to the 800m semi finals after she finished second in heat four of the 800m repechage. For the repechage, the winner of each heat qualified as well as the next two fastest athletes. Vivian’s time of 1:59.31 got her the second fastest slot.
In Swimming, Maria Brunlehner crushed out of the Women's 50m Freestyle when she came third in a time of 25:82 in her heat. Despite being eliminated Maria set a new national record in the 50m freestlyle which previously stood at 25.85 from 2014 and was held by Sylvia Brunlehner. The 16 fastest from the heats qualify to the semifinals. Remainder are eliminated.
And in Volleyball, Malkia Strikers Olympics campaign has come to an end following their straight set loss to Japan of 25-17, 25-22 and 25-12. The second set was the closest the Malkias have come to winning a set at the Paris Olympic Games, proving that with better resources, the Kenyan girls can be a force at the world stage.