Omanyala beaten in blockbuster Rabat sprint as Moraa delights
Athletics - Diamond League - Rabat - Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athletisme de Rabat- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - May 28, 2023 Fred Kerley of the U.S. celebrates crosses the line to win the men's 100m alongside third placed Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala REUTERS/Abdelhak Balhaki
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Commonwealth
champion Ferdinand Omanyala suffered his first 100m loss of the year when he
finished third in a star-studded line-up at the Diamond League in Rabat on
Sunday.
American
Fred Kerley powered to victory in 9.94s (MR) with former African record holder Simbine
of South Africa second in 9.99s and Omanyala closing the podium places in
10.05s.
World Bronze
medallist Trayvon Bromell was fourth and World Junior Champion Letsile Tebogo
came fifth.
Organisers
had put together one of the greatest 100m line-ups in recent memory including Olympic
Champion Marcell Jacobs who did not compete due to a back issue.
Omanyala
made a bright start on the night but lacked his signature top-end speed to keep
up with the world champion Kerley before Simbine also flew past him in the
final meters.
Commonwealth
champion Mary Moraa was in a different class in the women’s 800m, following up
her dominant victory at the Kip Keino Classic with another impressive win.
The reigning
Diamond League winner clocked 1:58.72 for her win ahead of Australia's Catriona
Bisset and American Sage Hurta-Klecker in third.
Former world
junior champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi continued his fine forms over 800m with a
decisive victory in the Moroccan capital.
The teenager
blew away an experienced field to claim top honours in 1:44.36 ahead of
Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal who finished second.
Olympic and
world champion Emmanuel Korir finished further back in eighth.
Kenya's
struggles in the men's 3000m steeplechase persisted with Morocco’s Soufiane El
Bakkali imperious at home in what was the last event of the night.
The Olympic
champion ran a personal best of 7:56.68 - the fastest time this year - to
finish well ahead of Ethiopian Getnet Wale (8:05.15) and Kenya’s Abraham
Kibiwot (8:05.51).

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