Kenyan 100m sensation and African champion Ferdinand Omanyala overcame a jet lag to qualify for the semifinals at the World Athletics championships in Oregon after clocking 10:10 to finish third in the seventh heat won by Japan’s Sami Brown in 9:98 as New Zealand’s Edward Osei Nketia clocked 10:08 to finish second.
Omanyala had less than three hours to prepare for his heat after experiencing visa hitches that saw him leave the country on Thursday night to embark on a 22-hour flight through Dubai and Seattle and finally to Oregon.
The semis and final will be on Sunday morning Kenyan time. Home favourite Fred Kerley set the fastest time and underlined his status as the favourite for the gold with a scorching 9:79 in heat 2 as Zharmel Hughes of Great Britain came second in 9:97.
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Travyon Bromell easily qualified for the semis as he displayed his prowess with a 9:89 performance to top his heat.
Brazil Rodrigo Nascimento came second in 10.11 as Ivory Coast’ Arthur qualified for the semis in 10.5. Defending champion Christian Coleman powered his way, posting 10.08 to win Heat six . Olympic 200m champion Andre De Grasse of Canada finished second in 10:12.Brazilian Eric Cardoso also qualified for the semis in 10:18.
Two-time Olympic 1,500 m champion Faith Kipyegon made light work of the opposition in her heat, winning in 4:04.53 as Australia Jessica Hull came home second in 4:04.64.Freweni Hailu was placed third in 4:04.85. Africa 1,500m champion Winnie Chebet also made it to the semis after finishing second to Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
Defending world 3,000m steeplechase champion Consenlus Kipruto led compatriots Abraham Kibiwott and Leonard Bett to the finals of the water jump event.
Kipruto finished second in his heat, clocking 8:20.12 with Ethiopian rival Lamecha Girma winning the the race in 8:19.64. Bett was placed second in his heat clocking 8:16.94 with Kibiwott third in 8:17 04. The race was won by Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali in 8:16:65. Benjamin Kigen failed to qualify for the final after stumbling on the final water jump to finish seventh.