Omanyala, Chepkoech, Moraa breeze on AK National Championships Day 1

Africa’s fastest man and the reigning Commonwealth champion Ferdinand Omanyala was in a field of his own as he easily won in his 100m heat on Day 1 of the Athletics Kenya National Championships taking place at the Nyayo National Stadium to advance to the semifinals on Friday.

The African record holder, who was fresh from consecutive second place finishes in the 2023 Florence and Paris Diamond Leagues, obliterated the field as he won after 10.09s beating Moses Wasike and Eliakim Odimo from the Universities who finished in 10.75s and 10.96s respectively.

Speaking after the race, Omanyala, who opened up a little on his experience in the Diamond League, cast his focus on winning the event for Kenya Police who are his employers as he hinted a go at running under ten seconds.

“The race was really good. In fact, I was expecting a slower race but 10.09s was fast. At least, I am seeing a sub 10s is possible this weekend.

Competing at the Diamond League level opens someone up in terms of mentality which makes someone ready for the upcoming games especially World Championships. My target here is just to win Gold for Kenya Police who are my employers,” he said.

In the semifinals, the 27-year-old will be joined by training partners Mark Kang’ethe (10.73), South Africa’s Henricho Bruintjies (10.55), Sharry Dodin (10.74) from Seychelles as well as Prison’s Hesbon Ochieng (10.47) and Dan Kiviasi (10.86). Meshack Babu from the Kenya Defence Forces will also be in contention after sailing through his heat in 10.40s.

In the women’s category, National 100m record holder Maximilla Imali also started her 100m title defense without any stressing, winning her heat in 11.67, beating Teresia Ngima to second place in 12.54.

KDF's Rukia Nusra (11.67), Monica Safania (Police, 12.00), Jacent Nyamahunge (Uganda, 11.77) and Eunice Kadogo (Police, 11.94) all won their heats to reach the women's 100m semis.

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3,000m steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech of Police and South Rift's Janet Chepng'etich won their respective 5,000m heats to reach the final.

Chepkoech, who missed the World Championships in Oregon last year, noted she was using the 5000m as part of her preparations for the national trials for the 2023 Budapest World Championship trials earmarked for 7-8 July in Nairobi just weeks before the event gets underway from 19-27 in Hungary.

Elsewhere, 800m world bronze medalist Mary Moraa also confirmed her place in the semifinals of her specialty

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