Omanyala Face Kerley Test In Florence Diamond League

 

Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala will renew his rivalry with world 100m champion Fred Kerley of USA at the third leg of the 2023 Diamond League series on Friday in Florence, Italy.

Omanyala suffered his first 100m loss of the season at the Rabat Diamond League last Sunday where he finished third in 10.05 seconds behind Kerley who won in 9.94 seconds and South Africa’s Akani Simbine who finished second in 9.99 sec.

With reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy pulling out of the race, five men who competed in Rabat will be lining up again tomorrow.

ALSO READ

• Jacobs talks a lot for someone who doesn't race: Bracy-Williams

• AK, Sports Ministry to set up pension plan for athletes

• Bolt desperate for impactful role in track and field

“For me it has been a great season and I need to maintain it for the next two months. It is a great feeling being at the Diamond League since it is a top notch competition and that is something that makes me run fast,” Omanyala said ahead of the Rabat meet.

Omanyala beat Kerley at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour last year before the American went on to win the world title in home soil at the Oregon World Championships which Omanyala missed on the finals owing to late arrival in the US due to a visa itch.

Jamaica’s Johanne Blake- the second fastest 100m runner of all-time and world bronze medallist Travyon Bromell of USA are the other entries who also competed in Rabat with the latter finishing fifth in 10.10 as Blake placed sixth in 10.18

World silver medallist Marvin Bracy of USA, Rohan Browning of Australia and Samuele Ceccarelli of Italy complete the line up in Florence.