Simbine outpaces Omanyala as Moraa narrowly misses out on top spot in the USA

19th May 2024 - by Tony Kipkorir

Akani Simbine won the 100m race in a world leading time of 9.90 seconds.

SUMMARY

Omanyala finished second in his first 100m race outside Kenya.
Moraa impressed in the 400m at the USATF Los Angeles Games.
Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi smashed her country’s 800m record.

Kenyan sprinters Ferdinand Omanyala and Mary Moraa had a good outing on Saturday in high profile races in the United States of America.

Omanyala produced an eye-catching performance to finish second in the 100m race at the 2024 Adidas Atlanta City Games, losing to the former African record holder Akani Simbine of South Africa.

Simbine, who has had an excellent start to the season won, the hotly contested race in a world-leading time of 9.90 seconds.

Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 364 Million SportPesa Mega Jackpot

This was his second win in less than a month since he had also triumphed at the recently held Shanghai Diamond League, which was staged in China on Saturday, April 27.

On the other hand, Omanyala clocked 10.00 seconds with homeboy Kendal Williams settling for third in 10.05 seconds.

Elsewhere, 800m world champion Mary Moraa registered a second position in the 400m discipline at the USAF Los Angeles Grand Prix.

ALSO READ: Coronation day imminent as Gor Mahia face Muhoroni Youth in title-deciding duel

Moraa, popularly known as the “Dancing Queen”, was beaten by Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic.

The latter clocked an impressive time of 50:27 while Moraa finished the race in a season-best time of 50.56.

Alexis Holmes of the United States stopped the stopwatch at 50.73 to complete the podium place positions.

ALSO READ: 3 loan spells, adapting to new culture and learning Swedish - Kenyan defender Frank Odhiambo keeps the faith in fight for first team football in Sweden

Meanwhile, Ugandan runner Halimah Nakaayi broke her country’s 800m national record in the same event.

Nakaayi won the race in 1:57.56 ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma (1:57.56) and United States’ athlete Sage Hurta-Klecker (1:58.98).

Reacting after achieving the milestone, the one-time world champion made clear her intentions of doing well at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games clear.

“Of course I would like to be an Olympic champion. It’s my dream,” the 29-year-old was quoted by the World Athletics after the race.

ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent