Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala, Mark Otieno qualify for Tokyo Olympics

Ferdinand Omanyala celebrates after clocking 10.02 in the Men's 100 metres finals at Kasarani Stadium. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

National 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala hit Olympics qualifying time at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday.

Omanyala clocked 10.02 while Mark Otieno also qualified in 10.05.

It is still unclear if Athletics Kenya (AK) has rescinded their policy barring athletes who served doping bans from making national teams.

Omanyala has already served his doping ban.

Omanyala said the false starts made it happen: "I was planning for a sub-10 but that will come later. Worked the whole COVID-19 break without competition and it has finally paid off. We have been competing against each other in the few races we have had and it great that we have made it together."

Omanyala (Front) and Otieno in action on Thursday, June 17, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]

Mark Otieno said: "I am happy that the two of us have made it. It has been a long journey. God has come at the right time.

I have been looking for this since January. The false starts made me nervous but we cannot argue with technology. Ferdinand is good and we need such pressure to make it to such high-level competition. I missed Rio (2016) but I had a dream and surely God has come at the right time. It is amazing that I ran in borrowed spikes."

Mark Otieno (Left) clocked 10.05 at Kasarani. [Jonah Onyango, The Standard]
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