One down, two to go for confident Omanyala

In Belgrade

One down, two to go…Ferdinand Omanyala will simply eat, nap, relax and wait for this evening’s 60 metres semi-finals after cruising through his heat in an “easy” 6.62 seconds in the morning programme at the Štark Arena here.

There were more Kenyan casualties, however, when Eglay Nalyanya failed to start in the women’s 800m heats – for what Team Kenya officials here described as a “late injury” - with the lone ranger Naomi Korir bringing the rear in her heat and missing out on the final.

In the men’s 1,500m, Abel Kipsang won from gun-to-tape pacing the field in fluctuating style.

In the final, he comes up against pre-championship favourite and world indoor record holder, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen who last month set the new world record at three minutes, 30.60 seconds at the Arena Couvert in Lievin, France.

The Norwegian took it easy in the opening heat to qualify in second place (3:38.42) behind Ethiopia’s winner Teddese Lemi (3:38.25).

Kipsang timed 3:37.67 with Ethiopia also qualifying a second athlete, Samuel Tefera who was the fastest in the heats, winning his qualifier in 3:37.05.

As expected, USA’s world record holder and red-hot favourite for the 60m gold medal, Christian Coleman, was one of the fastest qualifiers into the semis in 6.59.

But the surprise package was Coleman’s compatriot Marvin Bracy who clocked fastest in qualifying, a personal best 6.46 seconds.

Omanyala’s 6.62 (his personal best time is 6.57) ranked him 13th among the 24 qualifiers for the semis from where the first two in each of the three semis along with the two fastest outsiders qualify for the final tonight.

Fast track

Omanyala will run on a good Lane Four in the opening semi-final at 6.40pm (8.40pm Kenyan time), avoiding Coleman and Olympic 100m champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, but having to face the fastest man in today’s heats, American Bracy.

“It was the heats and I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself because I just wanted to sail through to the semis and the hard work starts in the semis because that’s where you look for a spot for the final,” Omanyala, the African 100m record holder (9.77 seconds) told Nation Sport, describing the track at the Štark Arena as “fast.”

“I’m just going back to the hotel now to take some lunch and just chill and wait (for the semis).

“The track was fast because it was an easy 6.62 and I’m looking forward to running even better in the semis and the final.”

Coleman, the world record holder with 6.34, and also the defending champion, said he felt a bit rusty but “took it easy.”

“It felt pretty good. Perhaps a little rusty, but I was taking it easy and smooth,” the American, world champion over 100 metres in 2019, said.

“I'm going to pick it up for the semis and try to be at my best for the finals. I'm defending champion but nobody's going to give me this as a favour. It could be anybody's race. I've got to go out there and try to execute it.

“We're here to compete against the best and I'm looking forward to it.”

In the women’s 800m, Ethiopia landed two athletes (Habitam Alemu and Freweyni Hailu) into the final outright with Uganda’s world champion Halimah Nakaayi also sailing through as one of the fastest qualifiers.

Alemu won her heat in a season’s best two minutes, 01.12 seconds saying she was happy to do the front-running.

“I had special tactic for this race to take the front from the start and try to keep it until finish line,” the Ethiopian said.

“It looks like my plan worked out good. I have been preparing for these World Indoors in Ethiopia and I'm in high developed shape. I don't know whether we'll have fast or tactical final, but if it is going to be speedy, it's much better for me.”

Tactical final

Nakaayi, winner of the 800m outdoor world title in Doha two years ago, battled through the field and looked strong despite being boxed in and finishing third and outside the automatic qualifying slots.

She was, however, a comfortable qualifier as one of the fastest losers.

“I was about to qualify but I lost in the last metres,” she explained.

“I have to try to avoid making such mistakes. It is going to be very tactical because of the track and the curves but it is OK. I have to be more careful and I think finals will be similar like this.

“All of these girls are going to run for a medal. The person, who will be the most ready for it, will get it. If it is my day, it will be my day. If it is someone else's day, it is their day.”

The women’s 800m final will be run on Sunday at 6.05pm local time (8.05pm Kenyan time).

In the men’s 1,500m, Ingebrigtsen, also the Olympic champion, said he won’t rest on his laurels in the final.

“I can't hide behind things like world records and Olympic titles. It is what it is.

“I have had the same level of confidence basically my whole life and that doesn't change whatever I've done.

“Of course it helps breaking records and winning titles, but you still have to race and I'm always excited to win things I've not been able to win before.

“I'm still young and I am the best runner here but I have to be prepared and perform at my best. If not, the other guys will beat me.

“This could be my first world title which is a big deal for me. It's nice to win things more than once but the first time is always the special one.”