Omanyala, Wanyonyi run world leads at AK Olympics trials

Omanyala, who is also the fastest African athlete, had already qualified for the Paris Games but keen on a good sprint at home, in what is his last race in Nairobi before the summer fiesta.

He had hinted it after the semi finals yesterday, and indeed eased to victory way ahead of his closest challenger Mark Otieno, a former national champion in the distance.

"This is a warning to so many people in the world, of what could happen in the next three months..." Omanyala, in his usual tone of confidence said after the race.

Otieno came home 10.12 was happy with the result despite failing to hit the qualification time, and is still hopeful he will can make the Paris team.

"It is not over until it is over. There is still time and I go back to work on improving my time," he said.

Gun to the Tape

He got a lifeline to the final through an appeal, as he had been tripped by a fellow athlete. 

Wanyonyi led from the gun to tape, followed by Wycliffe Kinyamal (1:42.50) and Koitatoi Kidali who timed 1:42.66. 

Wanyonyi ran the fastest 800 meters since 2012, as his time made him the third-fastest man ever in the distance.

Only world-record holder David Lekuta Rudisha, the two-time Olympic and world champion; and Denmark's Wilson Kipketer have run faster times.

"If I didn't fall yesterday, I would not have run like this today. I was cautious after that scare so I didn’t want to be sandwiched in the park at any point of the race.  So Everything happens for a reason," Wanyonyi said soon after the race.

Rudisha holds the world record of 1:40.91 and has also run the second- and third-fastest times, followed by Kipketer with the fourth-fastest time of 1:41.11.