Omanyala set for revenge battle as peerless Kipyegon tracks down World Record in Florence DL

Friday’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Florence - which rounds up as the third Diamond League leg this year - will see an exciting contingent of Kenyan athletes take part in various race events lined up for the evening session.

The highlight of the day for Team Kenya will be two time World Champion and Olympian Faith Kipyegon as she attempts to have a go at the women’s 1500m record in what will be the final event of the night at 10:49 PM (EAT).

Kipyegon on Thursday in her pre-race press conference mentioned that ‘I still have the World record in my mind and heart’, adding that ‘everything is possible’ as far as breaking Genzebe Dibaba’s record of 3:50.07 is concerned.

Having kick-started her season with a 3:58.57 performance in the Doha Diamond League, Kipyegon will face stiff competition from British Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir and American Jessica Hull.

Kipyegon, in her maiden appearance in Florence in 2021, clocked 3:53:63 finishing second to Dutch sensation Sifan Hassan.

"Everything is possible." - Faith Kipyegon hints at world record attempt in Florence

In another event that is set to draw lots of attention, Kenyan sprint star Ferdinard Omanyala will make his third appearance in the Diamond League series when he, yet again, takes an elite field in the day’s 100m scheduled for 10:39 PM (EAT).

Coming off a third place finish in Rabat a week ago, Omanyala - who outrightly stated that he wasn’t going to lose a race this year - will face off the three medalists in the recent World Championships in Oregon including; Fred Kerley, Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell.

Bracy - the World silver medalist - was a late addition to the field following homeboy Marcell Jacobs’ withdrawal with injury.

Another Italian - a European 60m indoor champion this year - Samuele Ceccarelli will be on the start list that will also have former African record holder and Rabat Diamond League second place finisher Akani Simbine.

Omanyala currently tops the performance list for this year with his 9.84 clocking at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, just ahead of Kerley’s 9.88 at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Yokohama, but Kerley won their first direct meeting for the year in Rabat last weekend.

World 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech will look to build on her strong start to the year - that includes a run-away win in the Kip Keino Classic when she takes on a field that will include Fancy Cherono and the duo of Jackline Chepkoech and Fancy Cherono.

In the race that starts at 9:25 PM (EAT), the Kenyan contingent will also be against Ethiopia’s world bronze medallist Mekides Abebe and USA’s 2017 world champion Emma Coburn.

In the 5000m men’s race, Kenya will be represented by the duo of Commonwealth Games silver medalist Nicholas Kimeli and compatriot world silver medalist Jacob Krop in a race that will see the return of Uganda’s world 10,000m and Olympic 5000m champion Joshua Cheptegei to the track for the first time since his triumph in Oregon.

Herculean task for Kimeli, Krop in quest for Florence DL defense

Also in the elite group will be an all-star Ethiopian quartet of Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega, 2021 Diamond League champion Berihu Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha and Samuel Tefera.

The race begins at 10:26 PM (EAT).

In another piece of news, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Mary Moraa on Thursday announced that she will not be taking part in the event’s 400m in the Florence and Paris Diamond League meetings.

“Competing in two World Athletics Continental Tour gold meetings and in one Diamond League is enough for the moment. We are making a tactical retreat with the only races on the card being the police meet, before heading to Lausanne late next month,” Alex Sang - Moraa’s coach clarified.