Double joy as Omanyala clinches African title

Kenya’s sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala promised some historical experience and just delivered that some 3,090km away at an Indian Ocean island.

Not only did Omanyala hand Kenya its first Africa 100m title in 32 years but also ran the fastest time on Mauritius soil at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships at Cote d’Or National Sports Complex.

Omanyala’s victory came right after compatriot, the 2018 Continental Cup 1,500m champion, Winny Chebet, had retained her 1,500m title, leading World Under-20 1,500m champion Purity Chepkirui to a 1-2 feat.

There was no relenting for Team Kenya as 2018 World Under-20 5,000m champion, Beatrice Chebet, ensured that the women’s 5,000m title remained in the country with victory as compatriot Caroline Nyaga claimed bronze.

A team of Collins Omae, William Rayan, Veronica Mutua and Jarinter Mawia claimed bronze in 4x400m mixed relay. 

That saw Kenya end day two with a total of seven medals; three gold, a silver and three bronze.

After a slow take-off, Omwanyala dug deep from behind to beat defending champion Akani Simbine from South Africa on the line and clinch his maiden championship title.

It was a thrilling photo-finish as Omanyala clocked 9.93 seconds to edge out Simbine as another South African Henricho Bruintjies claimed bronze in 10.01.

No Championship record

Omanyala’s time could have resulted in a Championship Record but was judged to be a wind assisted performance at +4.5 instead of the standard +2.5.

Omanyala’s feat equaled another wind assisted time of 9.93 (+3.5) by Namibian legend Frankie Fredrick when winning in 2002 in Rades, Tunisia.

Nigeria’s Seun Ogunkoya now gets to keep his Championships Record of 9.94 set in 1998 Dakar, Senegal.

Omanyala becomes the only other Kenyan to win the Africa 100m title after legendary Joseph Gikonyo, who claimed both the 100m and 200m crowns at the 1990 Cairo Championships.

Omanyala now aims to emulate Gikonyo’s feat with a double when he lines up in 200m on Saturday.

“I never thought it would be that tight. Akani is a great sprinter full of experience and competing with him gave me the motivation to work hard and push more,” said Omanyala. “I thought I would be ahead at 90m but they were, hence it was all about staying composed and getting through the finish line.”

Omanyala noted that this wasn’t the first time he was forced to wait at the board to see the results. “But I thank God the end results favoured me,” said Omanyala.

Decisive kick

In women’s 1,500m, Ethiopia’s Ayal Dagnachew briefly took the lead from Winny with 300m to go but the Kenyan would make the decisive kick just at the home straight bend to win 4:16.10 to triumph.

Chepkirui also zoomed past Dagnachew with 30m to claim silver in 4:16.28 as Dagnachew settled for bronze in 4:16.45, denying Kenya a podium sweep with Brenda Chebet taking fourth place in 4:17.25.

Omae’s team clocked 3:22.75, losing the battle to Botswana, who won in 3:21.85 as Nigeria timed 3:22.38 for silver.      

Kenya had on Wednesday claimed bronze in men’s 10,000m through Abraham Longosiwa.

National 100m champion and record holder Maximila Imali powered to fifth place in 11.29 in a tight women’s 100m final.

The 2019 African Games 100m silver medallist Gina Bass from Gambia won the race in 11.06, beating Seyni Aminatou from Niger to second place in 11.09 as Carina Horn from South Africa clocked 11.08 for bronze.

Omanyala and Imali would later guide their respective 4x100m teams to the finals.

Hammer thrower Dominic Abunda managed 51.65m to finish eighth in an event where South Africa’s Alan Cumming claimed gold in 51.65m. Egyptians Alaaeldin Elashry (67.93m) and defending champion Mostafa Al-Gamel (67.26m) settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Kenya’s Veronica Mutua finished second in her 400m semi-final 53.80 to storm the final despite losing to Nigerian Patience Okon in 53.24. Another Kenyan Jacinta Shikanda failed in her quest, finishing seventh in 56.78 in the semi-final won by Miranda Coetzee in 52.85.

Nicholas Kiplagat and Elias Ngeny finished second and third in their respective 800m semi-finals but still qualified for the final due for Friday.

Omae and Mbevi failed to qualify for the men's 400m final after they finished fourth and eighth in their respective semi-finals.

Omanyala’s team clocked 39.42 to win the second semi-final, beating South Africa and Swaziland in 40.99 and 41.25 as Botswana won the first semi in 39.32 ahead of Zimbabwe and Nigeria in 39.75 and 40.15.

Imali’s team finished third in 45.60 behind Botswana (45.02) and Gambia (45.40) in the second semi with Zambia cruising to victory in the first semi in 44.36 ahead of South Africa (45.21) and Madagascar (47.10).