Omanyala clocks 9.81 seconds to set World 100m lead-time

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates winning the 100m final race during the 2nd Edition of AK Track and Field weekend meet at Nyayo Ntaional stadium in Nairobi. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala on Saturday stormed to a world lead-time in 100 metres after clocking 9.81 seconds at Athletics Kenya (AK) Track and Field second meet at Nyayo Stadium.

At the same time, Africa 4x100m gold medallist Samuel Imeta from Kenya Defence Forces became the second Kenyan to run a sub 10seconds after finishing behind Omanyala.

Imeta, set a lifetime personal best of 9.94 to qualify for the first time ever to the World Athletics Championships slated for August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary alongside Omanyala.

The World Athletics has set 10.00 seconds as the qualifying standard for the world event in Budapest. Imeta's previous best was 10.12 seconds.

Ferdinand Omanyala (C) celebrates winning the 100m final race during the 2nd Edition of AK Track and Field weekend meet at Nyayo Ntaional stadium in Nairobi. [Stafford Ondego,Standard]

On Friday, Omanyala had set a time of 9.86 seconds.

Omanyala from Kenya Police beat compatriot Steve Onyango to second place in the third heat in 10.34 as they both qualified for the semi-finals.

In the semis, the African 100 metres record holder clocked 9.95 seconds ahead of South Africa's Henrico Bruintjies who came second in 10.35.

Meanwhile, Japan-based Samuel Kibathi and Rebecca Njeri emerged top in the men's 5,000 metres and women's 10,000m races respectively.