Omanyala golden finish at the African Athletics championships as Kenya's relay team sprints to gold in Mauritius

Ferdinand Omanyala (1184) on way to winning the 100m final during the 3rd Athletics Kenya Track and Field championship held at Nyayo national stadium in Nairobi on March 05, 2022.[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Ferdinand Omanyala bagged his second gold medal at the ongoing Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Mauritius after anchoring the Kenyan 4x100m team to victory on Friday.

Omanyala. 26, took over the baton from Mike Mokamba, Samuel Imeta, and Dan Kiviasi to finish in 39.28 seconds.

The relay team's win came barely a few hours after Nicholas Kiplagat clinched silver in men’s 800m as Veronica Mutua put on a fight in women’s 400m final to win bronze.

On Thursday, Omanyala timed 9.93 seconds to beat 100m defending champion Akani Simbine (9.93) of South Africa in a photo-finish dash and consequently give the country her first African 100m title in 32 years. He is set to compete in the men’s 200m heats and semis today.

Kiplagat (1:46.43) came second in a duel with Algerian Slimane Moula who won in 1:45.59 while Tshepiso Masalela from Botswana settled for bronze in 1:46.65.

“My ultimate goal was to win gold; I knew I was in top shape but the final lap we had pushing in the inner lane which affected my pace. But now I’m satisfied with the silver position, now next to the big one, Kenya’s world championships trials on June 24-25, I have already secured the qualification time but I’m ready to fight for a slot in the trials,” said Kiplagat.

Mutua timed 52.76 in a race won by South African Miranda Coetzee in 51.82 with Zambian Niddy Minglishi finishing third in 52.36.

In the men's 3,000m steeplechase, Kenya had to settle for bronze as Ethiopian produced 1-2 finish.  

Geoffrey Kirwa claimed bronze after timing 8:29.74 as Olympic bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen faded to sixth position in 8:38.83.

Gold medal was won by Hailemariyam Amare in 8:27.38 with his compatriot Tadese Takele getting silver in 8:28.31.