Omanyala's sprints into 60m semis at World Indoor Championships in Glasgow

Ferdinand Omanyala. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Africa’s fastest man in 100m Ferdinand Omanyala dashed to the 60m semi-final at the start of the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on Friday.

Omanyala sprinted to the top spot in the Heat Four, securing himself a place in the semi-final run.

The Commonwealth champion secured his qualification to the next round in 6.52 in a closely contested heat, clocking the same time as Japan’s Shuhei Tada.

Marc Brian Louis of Singapore finished third in 6.69, also qualifying for the semis.

World 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles of the USA controlled the proceedings in Heat One, stopping the timer in 6.57.

Jeff Erius of France and German Aleksandar Askovic took the second and third places in 6.63 and 6.66 respectively, and sailed to the semi-final.

Joining Omanyala in the cruise to the semi-final was Italy’s Chituru Ali and Swiss Henrik Larsson.

Vivian Chebet finished third in the women’s 800m Heat One, and qualified on time.

Chebet clocked 2:00.86 personal best behind winner Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia and second-placed Jamaican Natoya Goule-Toppin.

She is facing a stellar cast in today’s semi-final (Heat One), and will be the only Kenyan woman in the second last round of 800m ahead of the final tomorrow.

In Heat One, Chebet will be facing Goule-Toppin once again. Ethiopian Tsige Duguma, Australian Catriona Bisset and Swiss Lore Hoffman will be eying a spot in the women’s 800m final.

Naomi Korir did however not sail to today's semi-final, bowing out of the contest after placing fourth in Heat Two.

Collins Kipruto and Noah Kibet, the two Kenyan men in the 800m contest will not be in the semi-final today after both finishing third.

Kipruto missed out on the top two cut after losing to winner Mohamed Ali Gouaned of Algeria (1:46.49) and T shepiso Masalela of Botswana (1:46.76).

Kibet finished behind Bryce Hoppel of USA (1:46.15) and Morocco’s Abdelati el Guesse (1:46.29).