Just few days after setting a world leading record of 9.84s at the fourth edition of the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour meet held in Nairobi, Kenya’s sprinting sensation Ferdinand Omanyala has been confirmed for the Florence Diamond League that will take place on 2 June.
Having been already included in a blockbuster Rabat Diamond League field containing World champion Fred Kerley and Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs on 28 May, the reigning Commonwealth and African champion will have another go against the same athletes five days later in the Italian city. The Rabat Diamond League Field will also feature reigning Diamond League champion Trayvon Bromell and fellow American Erriyon Knighton as well as South Africa’s Akani Simbine.
The trio of Omanyala, Jacobs and Kerley was to face-off for the first time last year during the third edition of the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi but Jacobs was forced to pull out of the event in the 11th hour due to illness with Omanyala going on to beat Kerley. The American got his Diamond League campaign off to a winning start in the 200m in the Qatari capital, while Jacobs has not appeared on the circuit since his third-place finish in Monaco in 2021, just before his Olympic triumph.
Having already made his Diamond League debut in Brussels back in September 2021, Omanyala will be keen to leave his mark when he makes his second and third appearances in Rabat and Florence.
In the 1500m, Kenya’s Olympic and World champion Faith Kipyegon has also been confirmed for the event where she will be facing Britain’s Laura Muir, the silver medalist in Tokyo and bronze winner at last year’s World Championships held in Oregon. 3000m steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech has also been confirmed for the event.
Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo will go head to head with Diamond League champion Ivana Vuleta in the long jump, while Tom Walsh and Joe Kovacs are set to clash in the men’s shot put. The Pietro Mennea Golden Gala in Florence is the third leg of the 2023 Wanda Diamond League athletics’ premier one-day meeting series.
The WDL comprises 14 of the most prestigious events in global track and field. Athletes compete for points at the 13 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Eugene on 16th-17th September.
