Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will not be racing at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels after his seventh-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome.

After his performance in Rome, Omanyala is 12th in the 100m standings with nine points and with one Diamond League Meeting before the final, the Kenyan has no chance since there will be no 100m race for the men.

He has been silent after the Paris Olympics misstep and has raced thrice since then. The Commonwealth Games champion finished eighth in the men’s 100m semifinal in Paris to miss out on a slot in the final.

He bounced back to dip sub-10, clocking 9.95 seconds to win the race at the Int. JOSKO Laufmeeting before finishing second behind Fred Kerley at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia. However, Omanyala then finished seventh at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome to end his journey in the Diamond League until next season.

In a post on X after his Diamond League flop, Omanyala said: “Everyday is a fresh start, a chance to count your blessings and embrace the journey ahead.”

He now goes back to the drawing board, his focus shifting to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Omanyala raced at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and faded to finish seventh in the final. He hopes to impress and go one place better at the global showpiece in Tokyo.

The Kenyan sprint king opened his season with an indoor tour that culminated with a fourth-place finish at the World Indoor Championships. He then raced at the Kip Keino where he finished fifth before heading to the World Athletics Relays where Team Kenya finished fourth.

At the Prefontaine Classic, the Kenyan finished second before rounding up the podium at the Racers Grand Prix. Omanyala then proceeded to the Kenyan Olympic trials where he won the race and later claimed the win at the FBK Games in Hengelo before the Olympics.

Kenya fail to reclaim top African nation spot as World Under-20 Championships end in Lima

Kenya finished fifth at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima after they were overshadowed by rival Ethiopia and the record-setting performances.

Kenya finished fifth as the curtains came down on the 2024 World Under-20 Championships on Sunday morning despite a commendable performance that saw them secure seven medals.

The Kenyan team collected three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal in a highly competitive field that saw the United States lead the medal tally.

The United States topped the charts with a total of 16 medals, including eight golds, reflecting their dominance two years ahead of hosting the next edition in Eugene, Oregon.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia, Kenya's long-standing rival in long-distance track events, secured the second spot.

Among the standout performers for Kenya were gold medalists Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi in the 5000 meters, Edmund Serem in the 3000 meters steeplechase, and Sarah Moraa in the women's 800 meters.

Silver medals for Kenya came through Denis Kipkoech in the 3000 meters, Matthew Kosgei in the 3000 meters steeplechase, and Marion Jepngetich in the women’s 3000 meters.

Additionally, Diana Chepkemoi added a bronze in the 3000 meters steeplechase rounding out Kenya’s medal haul.

The championships in Lima were not just about the competition; they also marked significant advancements in the athlete experience.

For the first time at a World Athletics U20 Championships, an Athlete Zone was introduced. This dedicated space provided athletes and their support networks with a variety of resources, including health and science information, safeguarding, and insights from the Athletics Integrity Unit.

The Athlete Zone was well-received,with more than 1,500 visitors enjoying its facilities, which included games, competitions, and educational sessions on topics such as social media and brand building.

Ethiopia’s record-setting performances came from Medina Eisa, who clocked a new championship record of 14:39.71 in the women’s 5000 meters, and Sembo Almayew, who shattered the women’s 3000 meters steeplechase record with a time of 9:12.71.

Other noteworthy achievements included the setting of new championship records by Tunisia’s Rayen Cherni in the men’s 10,000 meters race walk and Czechia’s Tomas Jarvinen in the decathlon, who scored an impressive 8425 points.

The global competition saw 20 countries clinching gold medals and 66 nations finishing in the top eight.

Thailand made a historic breakthrough, winning its first-ever medal at the championships — a silver in the men’s 100 meters by Puripol Boonson, who also contributed to his nation’s bronze medal in the 4x100 meters relay.

Retired Bahamian sprinter banking on Emmanuel Wanyonyi to shatter David Rudisha's world record

The 38-year-old, conversing with the 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, explained why the 800m world record might be in danger and predicted the times Emmanuel Wanyonyi might be running next season.

American sprint legend Justin Gatlin and his podcast co-host Rodney Green have lauded Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Marco Arop and noted that the duo might just obliterate David Rudisha’s world record.

Rudisha set the world record at the 2012 London Olympic Games, clocking a striking 1:40.91 to cross the finish line. At the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, Wanyonyi threatened the world record, clocking 1:41.11 to win the race. Reigning world champion Arop crossed the finish line second in a time of 1:41.72.

Speaking on the Ready Set Go podcast, Green explained that next season, the two athletes might run under 1:41 and might not necessarily break the world record, but it would be closer to the world record.

“That one was fast man, the 800m, Emmanuel from Kenya. What do you think about the world record falling…this boy ran 1:41.11. The guy from Canada, Marco Arop, was right behind him. They are going hand in hand, they are battling man, 1:41.72. We are getting closer and closer to that 1:40 but them pushing each other the way they are doing, I actually think we might see 1:40 next year,” Green said.

“We might not see a world record, but we shall see a 1:40. Those two guys are running in fantastic shape. He (Wanyonyi) got the world lead, the Diamond League record, the meet record, along with a personal best time. He just got a whole alphabet alongside his name, shout out to Emmanuel from Kenya,” he added.

On his part, Gatlin noted that as Rudisha set the record in 2012, he never thought anyone would break it but as things are progressing, it might be obliterated soon.

“I was there when the world record was being set by Rudisha…first of all, look, when Rudisha was setting the world record, we were like nobody will ever break that, we thought it was crazy. Now look…shout out to him (Emmanuel),” he said.

'Changing a lot in my life...'- Christian Coleman opens up ahead of Diamond League final

Christian Coleman has discussed personal and professional changes after securing second place at the Rome Diamond League following Olympic trials setbacks.

Former world 100m champion Christian Coleman has made a remarkable return to top-level sprinting, securing second place at the recent 100-meter Rome Diamond League meet.

Clocking a time of 9.92 seconds, Coleman narrowly missed the first position but proved he remains a formidable competitor in the sprinting world.

After a disappointing Olympic campaign where he faced a disqualification in the men’s 4×100-meter relay and failed to qualify for the 100-meter individual race at the US Olympic Trials, Coleman’s journey back to the track was fraught with introspection and transformation.

"I felt a little rusty. Just because I mean, I haven’t ran open 100 since trials, and you know what I mean, changing a lot in my personal life, my training, and everything. So, I feel good for coming back," Coleman shared in an emotional interview with Citius Mag.

Despite not securing a spot in the Olympic team, Coleman's popularity and fan base have remained strong, buoyed by memories of his previous victories and his well-known speed.

The 28-year-old athlete expressed gratitude for the support he received during his time away from the spotlight, which helped him refocus and return with renewed vigor.

"I feel ready; I mean, I know I’ve done everything on my part. Give myself the best shot, put myself in the best position, despite the circumstances and everything, and so, at this point, just got to let it happen," he remarked.

In the wake of his trials, Coleman parted ways with Tim Hall, his long-time coach from his college days, and began working with Dennis Mitchell.

This coaching change was another step in his quest to regain his top form. Coleman credited Mitchell for his recent performance and highlighted the positive impact of their collaboration.

Coleman's sights are set on not only the upcoming Diamond League Finals but also on reasserting his presence in the global sprinting arena.

His return to form in Rome is just the beginning of what appears to be another exciting chapter in his career.

For Mila Sport

~ DAN~