Shock as Omanyala finishes fifth at the Kip Keino Classic, Moraa and Wanyonyi dazzle

Ferdinand Omanyala’s reign as the king of the 100 metres at the Kip Keino Classic came to a disappointing end as he finished 5^th in rainy conditions at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The double Kip Keino Classic 100 metres champion registered an unofficial time of 10.03 seconds as American Kenneth Bednarek stormed to victory with a time of 9.91 seconds. Liberian Emmanuel Matadi finished 3^rd in 9.99 seconds with Italian Ali Chituru following in fourth place at 10.00s.

Omanyala’s compatriot, Mark Odhiambo, was a distant 6^th with a time of 10.22 seconds as the American Camel Dorian and the Ivorian Arthur Cisse finished in the last two positions with times of 10.33s and 10.48s respectively.

This was Omanyala’s first 100 metres race of 2024 and with the Olympic Games just four months away, the result must have served as a warning to the 28-year old athlete to step up his preparations.

The result also marked the first that Omanyala ran below 10 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic after clocking 9.77s, 9.85s, and 9.84s in the three previous editions of the competition held in 2021, 2022, and 2023 respectively. Omanyala had first second in 2021 before winning the next two editions and was looking for a third consecutive title in the event but it was not to be.

Ferdinand Omanyala speaking after the race at #2024AbsaKipkeinoClassic pic.twitter.com/DO9v2jwLYb

— Alex Isaboke (@alexisaboke) April 20, 2024

In the 200 metres, Botswana sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo was second after losing first place to American Courtney Lindsey as both athletes clocked 19.71s. The two athletes finished way ahead of the Swiss William Reais who was third in 20.54s. Kenya’s only representative in the race, Samuel Waweru, finished last in 21.15 seconds.

In the women’s sprints, Namibia’s 200 metres Olympics silver medalist Christine Mboma faced a baptism of fire as she finished last in the 100 metres with a time of 12.32s. Gambian Gina Bass won the race comfortably with a time of 11.33s as Bassant Hemida of Egypt finished second in 11.51s. Shannon Ray of the USA was third in 11.53s as Kenya’s only representative in the competition, Esther Mbagari, clocked 12.08s to finish seventh.

In the 400 metres, there was something to cheer about for Kenya as Mercy Chebet finished second in the women’s event with a time of 51.71s. Bahraini athlete Kemi Adekoya was first in 51.63s and Leni Shida of Uganda finished third in 42.41 seconds. Kenya’s other representatives in the race; Maureen Thomas (53.58s) and Jackline Nanjala (54.03s) were 6^th and 8^th respectively.

In the men’s 400 metres, Kenya missed out on the podium completely as the country’s top finisher Zablon Ekwam clocked 44.69s to finish fourth while Kennedy Kimeu finished last in eighth place with a time of 46.93s. Bayapo Ndori (Botswana), Bryce Deadmon (USA), and Leungo Scotch (Botswana) finished in the top three positions in 44.10s, 44.41s, and 44.54s respectively.

The women’s 400 metres hurdles saw Kenya’s only representative, Vanice Kerubo, finish in 6^th with a time of 58.15s. Norwegian Amelie Iuel won the race in 54.89s, ahead of Belgian Paulien Couckuyt (55.23s) and American Bianca Stubler (56.69s).

The women’s 400 metres hurdles was categorized as a national event and Wiseman Were continued to prove as the nation’s best in the event after clocking 48.57 seconds to finish ahead of Kipkorir Rotich (50.39s) and Edward Ngunjiri (50.84s).

In the men’s and women’s 800 metres, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Mary Moraa lived up to the hype as they won their events with a time of 1:43.57 and 1.57.96 respectively with both leading a Kenyan sweep of the podium. Aaron Kemei (1:44.10) and veteran Ferguson Rotich (1:44.90) finished second and third respectively in the men’s race while Nelly Chepchirchir (1:58.26) and Vivian Chebet (1:58.93) followed Moraa in that order.

Kenya dominated the men’s and women’s 1 500 metres with Kenyan athletes almost sweeping the podium in both events. Reynold Kipkorir (3:31.96), Brian Komen (3:32.29), and Daniel Munguti (3:33.71) claimed the first three positions in the men’s event. Mary Ekiru finished in the women’s race in a time of 4:06.26 as Edinah Jebitok followed in second place with a time of 4:07.22. Ethiopian Hawi Abera gatecrashed the top three as she clocked 4:10.96 with Josephine Kiplangat finishing a distant fourth in 4:13.05.

There were mixed results for Kenya in the 3 000 metres steeplechase as Kenyan men swept the podium in a field comprising Kenyan, Ethiopian, and Ugandan athletes. Abraham Kibiwot led the Kenyan 1-2-3 as he finished first in 8:20.54. Amos Serem was second in 8:21.40 as Mathew Kosgei finished third in 8:23.84.

In the women’s event, Kenyan-born Romanian athlete Stella Rutto stole the show as she clocked 9:39.57 to win the event. Leah Jeruto followed in second with a time of 9:39.94 while Kenyan-born Kazakhstani runner Daisy Chepkemei finished third in 9:41.13 seconds.

While Kenyans carried the day in the 800 metres and 1 500 metres, Ethiopians turned the tables on Kenyans in the 5 000 metres as their athletes won both the men’s and women’s races. Abdisa Fayisa won the men’s race comfortably in 13:34.77 as Levy Kibet and Charles Rotich followed in second and third place respectively in 13:38.39 and 13:39.16.

Marta Alemayo led the Ethiopians domination of the 5 000 metres in the women’s race by winning with a time of 15:14.54. Kenya’s Margaret Kipkemboi finished second in 15:19.76 as Lemlem Nibret of Ethiopia claimed third position in 15:20.99.

The men’s race was the only event in 10 000 metres and it was categorized as a national event. Edwin Seko won the race in 28:30.43 and he was followed closely in second place by Amos Langat who clocked 28:30.91. Kelvin Kiplagat was third in 28:32.40.

Kenya had a day to forget in field events as Julius Yego finished last in the javelin throw as did Dominic Agunda in the hammer throw.

Yego, who hopes to compete in his fourth Olympic games in Paris later in the year, finished ninth with a throw of 72.25 metres. His compatriot, Alex Kiprotich, was eighth after throwing 74.63 metres. Latvian Gatis Cakss won the event after throwing 81.74 metres. Germany’s 2016 Olympic Champion Thomas Rohler threw 80.62 to finish second. Belgian Timothy Herman was third with a throw of 79.94 metres.

In the men’s hammer, Agunda’s throw of 60.09 metres was good enough for seventh place and it paled in comparison to Canadian world champion Ethan Katzberg’s throw of 84.38 metres which carried the day. Mykhaylo Kokhan of Ukraine was second with a throw of 80.76 metres while Polish Wojciech Nowicki completed the podium with a throw of 79.14 metres.

The men’s triple jump and shot put were categorized as national events. Isaac Kirwa’s jump of 15.95 metres was good enough to carry the day in the triple jump. Gilbert Pkemoi (15.59 metres) and Philip Mwema (15.47 metres) followed in second and third place respectively. Peter Mwangi (15.50 metres) won the shot put ahead of Benson Maina (15.34 metres) and Leonard Bett (14.99 metres).

The women’s field events featured only the high jump and the hammer throw and Kenya was represented in only one – the hammer throw in which Roselin Rakamba finished last out of seven competitors with a throw of 55 metres. American Janee’ Kassanavoid won the event with a throw of 75.99 metres. Bianca Ghelber (Romania) and Beatrice Llano (Norway) followed in second and third place respectively with throws of 74.06 metres and 70.77 metres.

The women’s high jump, which featured no Kenyan competitor, was won by Michaela Hruba of the Czech Republic who cleared the 1.90 metres mark as did second-placed Maja Nilsson of Sweden. Elena Vallortigara of Sweden was third after clearing 1.86 metres