Africa’s sprinting sensation, Ferdinand Omanyala, showcased his exceptional talent as he advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, running a time of 10.08 seconds at the Stade de France.
The Commonwealth Games reigning champion comfortably won his heat, finishing ahead of Italy’s Ali Chituru and Joshua Hartmann, who took second and third place, respectively.
Omanyala exhibited strategic racing, swiftly taking control of the race from the start. However, he chose to ease off towards the finish, explaining that this decision was part of his race tactic.
“It was a tactic, not that I had a bad finish. I slowed down because I had already beaten my competition,” he stated. The Kenyan sprinter emphasized his need to conserve energy as he prepares for what he anticipates will be tougher challenges in the semi-finals.
With optimism and confidence, he remarked, “I have not felt like I’ve run because I had some good preparations. I don’t think there is a grey area I need to work on. The preparations are over, and I just want to do my job.”
Among other notable athletes advancing to the semi-finals were American sprint star Noah Lyles and defending Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy.
Lyles, who won a historic treble gold at last year’s World Championships, finished second in his heat at 10.04 seconds. Jacobs, known for his shocking Olympic gold win in Tokyo, clocked 10.05 seconds, narrowly missing first place in a competitive race.
Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson led the heats with a blistering time of 9.77 seconds, signaling his potential to contend for gold. As the excitement builds leading into the semi-finals, all eyes will be on Omanyala and his quest for Olympic glory.
