Wind spoils Omanyala’s day
The National Stadium was a hive of activity on Saturday as local and international athletes clocked fast times during the inaugural Botswana Golden Grand Prix. However, the fast times have been attributed to the wind. Kenyan sprinter, Ferdinand Omanyala stormed to a +2.3m/s wind-aided time to win the 100m title.
The reigning African champion clocked the fastest time in the world this season of 9.78. However, his time is not ratified as a World Lead due to the windy conditions in Gaborone on Saturday. Botswana’s golden boy Letsile Tebogo was second in the race with a time of 9.91 while Kenny Bednarek of the USA came third with 10.02. Tebogo went on to win the 200m title with 19.87 beating his PB.
His time is, however, ratified as a World Lead as the wind recorded at a speed of -0.3m/s. Zambian prospect, Samukonga Muzala shocked former Olympic and World champion, Kirani James of Granada as he won the 400m title. Muzala became the first man to run a sub 44 as he won the race with an impressive 43.91 with James coming in second with a time of 44.76 while local star, Leungo Scotch came in at third place with 44.92. In the women’s 100m, many had touted Sha’Carri Richardson to wow the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix crowd. But American, Kayla White was not having any of it as she clocked 22.38 to finish ahead of Richardson’s 22.54.
The highlight of the day was a shocker in the men’s 400m as Zambian, Muzala, took the crown ahead of former Olympic and World Champion, James. The 21-year-old set a new world lead and a Zambian national record with a time of 43.91s. The youngster would count himself lucky as the wind was recorded at normal speed. The sprinter jumped to 17th place on the World 400m all-time list as he recorded the fastest time at the National Stadium for the 400m race. No athlete had done a sub 44 at the National Stadium before Muzala.
Meanwhile, the first edition of the Botswana Golden Grand Prix received a lot of praise from the elite runners. James fell in love with the energy he received from the local crowd.
“It is my first in sub-Saharan Africa so all of this is a new experience for me. I am just here to build for the rest of the season and also to put on a good show for the fans. I am glad that a lot of people came out to watch the event. So I am happy we can come out and bring some excitement to the people,” he said.
“The experience is good, the fans here are very very noisy, and they know how to welcome the athletes. So for me and the rest of the athletes, it is something that we appreciate. Them coming out and supporting it means a lot to athletes, especially those who were in Botswana for the first time,” James added. Omanyala said Botswana has a bright future in the sport and is ready to host more international competitions.
“The moment I got on the track and I saw the crowd and the cheers all, my tension just disappeared.
For me that’s all about athletics, not about the track but how you brand yourself. I loved the fans and I hope that organisers can make it again so I can come back,” he said. The event’s 100m women’s champion, Terry Twanisha of the USA could not find words to describe the local crowd’s energy. “I love it here, the energy, the crowd. They do not wait for the moment we start running (but) as soon as you walk out they just give you the best energy that it is time to put on a show,” she said.