Omanyala set to battle Imeta in South African Grand Prix

Commonwealth Games 100m champion and African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala will be in action on Wednesday 12 April as the South African track and field season gets underway.

Omanyala, who last competed during the second Athletics Kenya (AK) meet on 25 February at the Nyayo where he put up a show on the final day to win the 100m final in 9.86 will be up against another Kenyan Samuel Imeta.

Omanyala back in action with a busy calendar

In the February meet, the two went head to head with the Kenya Defence Forces’ (KDF) athlete clocking 9.94 seconds, a time, had it been ratified would have qualified him for the World Championships in Budapest.

With a lot more attention on the sprint, local stars are keen to hold their own against the international counterparts from around the world at the first leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series, a World Athletics Continental Tour meeting at Tuks Athletics Stadium.

South African teenage sensation Benjamin Richardson, a two-time medalist in the 100m at the World U-20 Championships, will be looking to take a big scalp when he lines up against the African record holder.

Omanyala will also face stiff competition from Gilbert Hainuca of Namibia. His nemesis and former continental record holder Akani Simbine will, however, not be in action.

In the women’s 100m race, SA record holder Carina Horn will be eager to extend her domestic dominance, but she will need to be at her best to hold off a challenge from national junior record holder Viwe Jingqi.

In other contests, SA champion Prudence Sekgodiso will line up as the favourite in the women’s 800m race, but she will have to be on her toes to beat Botswana national record holder Oratile Nowe, while Kenyan former 1500m world champion Elijah Manangoi is likely to dominate the men’s two-lap contest.

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