Omanyala relinquishes Botswana Grand Prix title

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala has relinquished the Botswana Golden Grand Prix 100 metres title to South Africa’s Akani Simbine.

Omanyala, who won the title in 2023, cruised to the lead through midway before Simbine, the world indoor 60m bronze medallist, took charge to storm to victory in a world leading time of 9.90 seconds at the National Stadium in Gaborone on Saturday. 

The Botswana Golden Grand Prix is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level track and field meeting and forms the second-tier of athletics meetings behind the Diamond League.

Simbine, competing in Botswana for the first time, relegated Commonwealth Games 100m champion Omanyala to second place. Omamyala clocked a season best time of 10.00.

World Championships qualifying standard

The times saw Simbine and Omanyala once again attain their 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships qualifying standard of 10.00 seconds.

Omanyala and Simbine are no strangers. It's Omanyala who claimed both the Africa record and Commonwealth Games titles from Simbine in 2021 and 2022 respectively. 

Omanyala clocked 9.77 for a new Africa record despite finishing second before going for the Commonwealth Games title in 2022 Birmingham.

Mark Otieno's season’s best

Mlenga Retshidisitswe from South Africa timed 10.15 for third place as another Kenyan athlete Mark Otieno romped home fourth in season’s best 10.22.

World Under-20 and Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa from Kenya clocked season best 1:59.46 to settle for second place, losing the battle to home athlete Oratile Nowe in 1:58.96.

The Kip Keino Classic 400m hurdles champion, Wiseman Were, also settled for second place, running 49.07, finishing behind South Africa’s Njabulo Mbatha in 49.06. Home athlete Victor Ntweng timed 49.20 for third place.

Former national 400m champion Zablon Ekwam finished fifth in 200m final B in 20.72, a race won by Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa in 20.01.

sayodi@ke.nationmedia.com