“I will take the hit” — Omanyala reflects on tough Rome outing

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala endured a difficult night at the Rome Diamond League, finishing eighth in the men’s 100m after clocking 10.11 seconds.

American sprint star Noah Lyles claimed victory in 9.88 seconds (+0.4 m/s), with Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme second in a national record 9.94 seconds, while Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo completed the podium in 9.95 seconds.

Reacting to the result, Omanyala admitted it was a tough outing but vowed to keep fighting.

“Tough outing in Rome. 10:11. I will take the hit but will always show up,” Omanyala posted.

The result came after a strong start to the season for the Kenyan, who has been training in Italy following his victory at the Xiamen Diamond League on May 23, where he clocked 9.94 seconds.

He also recently won the 19° Triveneto Meeting Internazionale in Trieste, Italy in 10.11 seconds.

Meanwhile, Lyles dominated the Golden Gala 100m final, producing a strong finish to secure victory.

“I had a great finish. I can go again. Who wants to go? I showed it today,” said Lyles.

“This season might be different, but the goal is the same. I am not here to lose. I am here to win.”

Lyles added that he knew he had the race under control in the final stages.

“10 metres before the finish line, I knew the race was over and I had already won it. I was thinking about how I was going to celebrate.”

Omanyala’s next assignment will be the Dromia International Sprint and Relays Meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event in Greece, on June 13.

He will then compete at the FBK Games in Hengelo on June 21 before rounding off the month at the Paris Diamond League on June 28.