Kenya’s Africa 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala’s win at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix has been restored.
Omanyala recorded 9.78 seconds a world lead, as he stormed to victory ,and now the grand prix media officials have clarrified that the time set by Omanyala was wind assisted +2.3 m/s and will therefore not be ratified as a world lead.
Omanyala seemingly stepped on the right side outside his lane as he glanced at home runner and runner up Leslie Tebogo who clocked a wind-assisted 9.91 (2.3m/s).
USA’s Olympic and world 200m medalist Kenny Bednarek, who like Tebogo was racing his first 100m of the season, finished third in 10.02.
Confusion had marred Omanyala’s win in Gaborone with his win temporarily being suspended prior to clarification.
According to World Athletics lane infringement rule 17.3.1 Omanyala was exonerated for it but did not infringe on Tebogo.
Thre rule states:
“This rule applies to athletes running on the bend in a laned race. If an athlete steps on the lane line on their left or runs into the lane on their inside they will be disqualified for shortening the distance of the race.
“If an athlete runs into the inside lane or touches the lane line in the straight, no report will be made unless they obstruct another athlete as they have not affected the distance to be covered in the race.
“Running into the lane on an athlete’s right (outer lane) should not be penalised unless there is interference with the athlete running in that lane.”
Meawnhile Omanyala anchored the national 4x100m team to victory as they enhanced their chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championship.
The world championship is scheduled for Budapest Hungary August 19th-27th 2023.
The Kenyan relay team is comprised of Samuel Imeta, Bonface Mweresa, Stephen Onyango and Ferdinand Omanyala. Kenya clocked 38.26 seconds to finish first ahead of Namibia and Zimbabwe who wound up in second and third places respectively.
The win pushed the Kenyan relay team to 12th position globally. Top 16 teams and top 8 finishers at last years World Athletics Championship in Oregon,USA will head to Hungaryu for the world championship.