Omanyala Makes History Again As Koech Claims Steeplechase Glory

Kenya’s sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala managed a third-place photo finish in the 2023 Diamond League final held on Saturday night after clocking 9.85 seconds.

In what was the very first time a Kenyan had made it to the Diamond League finals, Omanyala was just pipped to the crown by USA’s Christian Coleman who upset World Champion Noah Lyles after timing a world leading 9.83 ahead of his compatriot.

Lyles was left to settle for second after recovering in the last stages of the race as he clocked an identical 9.85 as Omanyala.

The race served as perfect recovery for reigning Commonwealth champion who was left disappointed following his seventh-place finish in the Budapest World Championships.

Meanwhile, Simon Koech continued his upward trajectory as he clocked 8:06.26 to win his maiden Diamond League title in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race.

Making just his second appearance in a Diamond League event, the former world U20 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist won the crown ahead of Ethiopia’s Firewu Samuel and George Beamish from New Zealand, making up for his disappointment in Budapest where he finhsed seventh.

Koech made his Diamond League debut in July when won in Monaco after clocking a Personal Best time of 8:04.19 that booked him his ticket to the Budapest World Championships.

Elsewhere, American 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin and Norwegian miler Jakob Ingebrigtsen both set new Diamond League records on a dramatic first day.

Benjamin soared to a stunning win over world champion Karsten Warholm in the first race of the night 400m hurdles, taking Warholm's Diamond League record as he did so with a brilliant 46.39.

Two hours later, it was Ingebrigtsen's turn to shine as he clocked 3:43.73 in the Bowerman Mile, missing out on the world record by just over half a second and claiming a new Diamond League record as he defended his title from the previous year.

Triple jump world record holder Yulimar Rojas defender her Diamond League title while Japanese javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi and South Korean high jumper Sanghyeok Woo became the first athletes from their respective countries to win the Diamond Trophy.

There was also a surprise in the women’s 100m as Shericka Jackson beat Sha'Carri Richardson.

Jackson will be aiming to do a rare Diamond League double when she takes to the track for the 200m at the second day of the final on Sunday.