By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand “The Beast from the East” Omanyala defeated South Africa’s two-time Olympic finalist Akani Simbine in the 100m final in Germiston on Wednesday night.
In the highlight of the fourth Grand Prix meet of the season, the African record holder clocked 9.98 seconds to beat Simbine ((10.11) pretty comfortably in the end. Bradley Nkoana finished third in 10.32.
The Kenyan set tongues wagging last September when he overhauled Simbine’s continental record, which at the time was 9.84, with a 9.77 time in Nairobi barely two months after the South African did it.
The 26-year-old Kenyan played rugby in high school and trained with the Kenyan Sevens team in their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics last year but decided to go the athletics route – a decision that’s paying off handsomely.
“My main aim was to run under 10 and I was not competing against him (Simbine); I was running against the finish line,” said Omanyala, who won in Potchefstroom last week.
“I’ve achieved what I came to achieve in South Africa. It was a good start to the season and when you run these times at this point in the season then you’re expecting a good season going forward.”
Earlier, Clarence Munyai (20.33) dominated the field in the men’s 200m, leaving Botswana veteran Isaac Makwala in the dust, who finished fourth (20.89).
Seventeen-year-old sprint sensation Viwe Jingqi won the 200m women’s race with a time of 23.10.Carina Horn, who was banned for two years for doping, won her second 100m race of the Grand Prix series when she blew out the field with a time of 11.43 seconds.
Marione Fourie was equally impressive in the women’s 100m hurdles, becoming only the third South African woman to break the 13-second mark. The 19 year-old prospect was sublime over the barriers, her nippy stride carrying her home in 12.93, slicing 0.12 off her personal best. She finished well ahead of Charlize Eilerd, who was the best of the rest in 13.81.
Simoné Kruger set a new F38 senior women’s African and national record for discus para standing, throwing 34.72m. Mandilene Hoffman took the silver medal with a 29.75m throw, while the distance of 28.79m earned Yane van der Merwe bronze.
In the women’s javelin throw, McKayla van der Westhuizen settled for second place behind Nikola Ogrodnikova of the Czech Republic, who produced a winning effort of 60.11m. Van der Westhuizen did enough, however, to break the 20 year-old South African U20 record of 58.33m previously held by Sunette Viljoen. The 18-year-old, who set a national youth best of 57.57m last year, added the junior mark with a 58.58m* heave.
Back on the track, in the women’s 400m sprint, Precious Molepo again showcased her potential, clipping 0.04 off the South African U18 record of 52.88, which had been held by Justine Palframan since 2010. Delene Mpiti won the race in 52.27, with 17-year-old Molepo taking second position in 52.84*.
Also sending her opponents a warning, as she prepares to chase her 10th national title next week, Wenda Nel used her immense experience to secure a comfortable victory in the women’s 400m hurdles. Nel won in 55.88, with in-form athlete Taylon Bieldt taking the runner-up spot in 56.65.
In the field events, Jovan van Vuuren cleared eight metres in the men’s long jump, landing at 8.10m as he continued to show his consistency, while discus throw giant Victor Hogan won the men’s discus throw (61.54m) ahead of former world youth champion Werner Visser (59.25m).
The fifth and final leg of the ASA Athletics Grand Prix series will return to Green Point Athletics Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, 21 May 2022.