African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has withdrawn from this week’s Diamond League final in Zurich due to injury, just days before the Tokyo World Championships.
The 29-year-old sprinter, one of 17 Kenyans who qualified for Zurich, confirmed on Monday that he would not be competing after experiencing deep muscle, hip, and glute pain.
“I regret to inform you that I will be unable to participate in the Diamond League final,” Omanyala said in a statement on Instagram. “I am optimistic about my recovery and anticipate being fully fit for Tokyo (September 13–21).”
Omanyala, who set the African 100m record of 9.77 seconds in September 2021, was named Kenya’s sole representative in the men’s 100m for the upcoming championships after the national trials in July. However, he has struggled to hit top form in this season’s Diamond League, finishing second in China and Morocco but trailing last in Shanghai, where South Africa’s Akani Simbine took victory ahead of Jamaica’s Olympic champion Kishane Thompson.
While Omanyala misses out, Kenya’s lineup in Zurich remains strong. Three-time world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and world 10,000m champion Beatrice Chebet are set to compete, alongside Olympic 800m champion and Diamond League leader Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who has dominated this season with four wins and the fastest times recorded.