Omanyala fourth on DL debut as Kenyans struggle in Brussels

National 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala finished fourth in his maiden Diamond League appearance in Brussels on Friday night.

Omanyala clocked 10.02 seconds behind USA trio of Olympic silver medallist Fred Kerley (9.94), Trayvon Brommel (9.97) and Michael Norman.

South Africa’s Akani Simbine who placed fourth at the Tokyo Olympics came home sixth in 10.18

Meanwhile, Mary Moraa who was also making her debut at the Diamond League got to a difficult start when she placed eighth in the women’s 800m race.

The Olympic semi-finalist clocked 1:59.79 in the race won by Jamaica’s Natoya Goule in 1:58.09

World 5000m champion Hellen Obiri notched a season best of 14:26.23 to settle for third in the 12-lap race won by Burundian Francine Niyonsaba who clocked a personal best and a national record of 14:25.34

The Kenyan quartet of Margaret Chelimo (14:27.12), Lilian Kasait (14:30.32), Eva Cherono (14:30.77) and Daisy Cherotich (14:56.46) all attained new personal bests.

Abel Kipsang (3:34.08) and Charles Simotwo (3:34.37) placed fourth and fifth respectively in the men’s 1500m race.

Olympic 10,000m and 5,000m champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands fell short of the world record over the mile as she clocked a meeting record of 4:14.74 as Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok placed 10th in a season best of 4:25.11

Olympic 800m silver medallist Ferguson Rotich stormed to victory in the non-Diamond League 800m race after crossing the finish line in 1:43.81 with Cornelius Tuwei (1:45.29) and Collins Kipruto (1:46.56).

The Brussels meeting was the 12th leg of the 2021 Diamond League series ahead of the finals slated for September 8-9 in Zurich, Switzerland.