Omanyala sprints into 100m semis in Tokyo

The heat was won by Akani Simbine of South Africa in 10.02, followed closely by Saminu from Ghana in 10.09, with Omanyala securing the third automatic qualifying spot.

This result keeps Kenya’s hopes alive in the sprints, with fans now turning their eyes to the next round as Omanyala looks to make history by reaching the finals.

Omanyala, who made history in 2022 by becoming the first Kenyan to reach a World Championship 100m final, continues to defy the odds in a race traditionally dominated by athletes from the Americas and the Caribbean.

This qualification adds to his growing legacy — having won the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold, and holding the African record of 9.77 seconds, set in Nairobi. He remains one of the fastest men in the world and a symbol of Kenya's growing strength in sprinting.

The 29-year-old has become a national icon, inspiring a new generation of young Kenyan sprinters to aim beyond middle and long-distance races.

As the semi-final approach, all eyes are on Omanyala to deliver yet another historic performance and possibly storm into another global final.