Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is through to the semifinal of the men’s 60m at the World Indoor championships in Glasgow, Scotland after clocking 6.52.
Omanyala beat Japan’s Shuhei Tada who finished behind him within a microsecond in heat 4.
Marc Brian of Singapore settled for the third spot after clocking 6.69. Both Tada and Brian sealed their qualifications.
Omanyala’s time of 6.52 equals his second-fastest time ever, having run the same time in his first Indoor meet of the season in Miramas three weeks ago.
His national record and personal best time is 6:51, set in Paris a week after the run in Miramas.
The semifinals are scheduled for 10:45pm on Friday.
Omanyala will square off against the 2020 Summer Olympics bronze medallist in the 200m, Noah Lyles of USA. Lyles clocked 6.57 to win his heat.
Also in the fold is the 2022 World indoor silver medallist in the 60m Christian Coleman. Coleman clocked 6.49 to win his heat.
The other Kenyan to qualify for the semifinal round was Vivian Chebet who sailed to third spot to seal a semifinal slot in the women’s 800m after clocking 2:00.86.
Collins Kipruto clocked 1:46.89 to finish third in the men’s race and missed out on a semifinal spot.
Noah Kibet also failed to secure a semifinal slot after clocking 1:46.90 in his heat. Another Kenyan Naomi Korir also missed out on the semis.
