Omanyala disappoints fans at Kip Keino Classic as Bednarek wins elusive title
20th April 2024
Bednarek has finished behind Omanyala in the last two editions of the Kip Keino Classic
- Ferdinand Omanyala finished fifth in the 100m race at the event which is recognized by the World Athletics.
- This year's title went to American sprinter Kenneth Bednarek, who won the race in 9:91 seconds.
- Mark Otieno, another Kenyan who featured in the race, settled for sixth.
Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala failed to defend his
Kip Keino Classic title on Saturday evening at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Omanyala, who was the pre-race favorite, did not even manage
to finish inside the top 3 positions in the World Athletics Continental Tour
event.
The University of Nairobi alumni clocked 10:03 to register a
fifth-place position in a race that was won by United States’ sprinter Kenneth
Bednarek.
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Bednarek, who has finished behind Omanyala in the last two
editions of the Kip Keino Classic, crossed the finishing line in a time of 9:91
ahead of Liberia's Emmanuel Matadi and Great Britain's representative Jeremiah
Azu. Matadi and Azu clocked 9:99 and 10:00 respectively.
Speaking to SportPesa News, Bednarek stated that he was
happy to see the effort that he has been putting in training pay fruits.
"I am just happy with my performance. I mean, I have
been training a lot, working hard on the track. You know, I am just happy to
see the results on the track,” he commented.
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When asked what he was going to do after the hotly contested
battle, the 25 year old divulged that he was going to relax, watch some games
and get ready for another race which will take place in a week.
Bednarek added that he has plans to go to a Safari on Sunday
before flying out of the country.
The sixth-place position went to Kenya's Mark Odhiambo
Otieno, who finished the race 19 seconds slower than his compatriot Omanyala.
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In another race, Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo was narrowly
beaten by United States’ Courtney Lindsey, after both of them clocked 19:71
seconds in the 200m men’s category. Swiss runner William Jeff Reais came a
distant third in 20:54.
Elsewhere, fast-rising starlet Mary Nyaruai overcame
experienced runners such as Edinah Jebitok to run away with the 1500m women’s
title.
Nyaruai, who won a medal for Kenya at the recently concluded African Games, crossed the finishing line in 4:06.26 ahead of Jebitok (4:07.22) and Ethiopia’s Hawi Abera (4:10.96).
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