Omanyala Secures Spot in Diamond League Final Despite Lausanne Absence
African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala is set to make a triumphant return to the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich next weekend, having effectively secured qualification despite missing the final qualifying meet in Lausanne this Wednesday.
Omanyala, Kenya’s sprint sensation and Africa’s fastest man, has accumulated 20 points in the Diamond League standings — a total that places him in a commanding position ahead of the Lausanne leg.
His qualification will be formally confirmed following the meet, with only three athletes mathematically capable of matching or surpassing his tally.
The absence of Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman, both tied at 18 points, further solidifies Omanyala’s standing.
With neither athlete competing in Lausanne, their chances of overtaking Omanyala are effectively nullified. The remaining contenders — Brandon Hicklin and Noah Lyles of the United States, and Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain — enter Lausanne with 14, 14, and 13 points respectively.
Each would require a win and favorable outcomes to challenge Omanyala’s lead, making his qualification all but certain.
This marks a significant milestone for Omanyala, who missed last year’s final in Brussels. His last appearance in the Diamond League Final came in 2023, where he delivered a strong performance, finishing second with a time of 9.98 seconds, narrowly behind Coleman’s winning 9.95 seconds.
