Kenyan sprinter Ferdinan Omañala, the African record holder in the 100m, has announced he will miss the World Championships in Athletics, which starts Friday in Eugene, USA, due to an entry visa.
“I decided not to go to Oregon. Even if I get my visa today, it’s already too late,” Omanala said, noting that Friday’s 100m qualifying runs take place on the first day of competition.
“I can’t do anything,” he added. “This is the longest day of waiting for me, and I don’t like to wait.”
SAD!!!
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omañala will not compete in the World Championships in Oregon, USA due to a delay in his visa.
I can not believe this.#OriginSportpic.twitter.com/PkGZKcv8s2
— Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) July 14, 2022
He concluded: “I have accepted the situation and my focus will now be on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham” scheduled for 28 August next year.
And Omañala has the third best time this year in the 100m with a time of 9.85 seconds, which he set last May.
Omañala holds the African record of 9.77 seconds since last September and is the eighth fastest sprinter in history behind four Americans and three Jamaicans.
Omanyala became the first Kenyan runner, characterized by long-distance runners and marathon runners, to reach the semi-finals in the 100m at the Olympic Games, specifically in Tokyo 2021.
Source: AFP