• ATHLETICS

• Frank Rotich 6 hrs ago

Omanyala and Cherotich lead Kenya’s race for Diamond League points in Xiamen

Kenyan stars Ferdinand Omanyala and Faith Cherotich will be among the top athletes to watch when the Diamond League continues in Xiamen, China, on Saturday.

The meeting is expected to produce exciting races after a strong season opener in Shanghai, where several world-leading times were recorded as athletes began preparations for major championships later this year.

Sprint star Omanyala heads into the men’s 100m race in top form after running below 10 seconds three times this season.

The African record holder will face a strong field that includes Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, former world champion Christian Coleman, American star Trayvon Bromell, and South African speedster Akani Simbine.

Tebogo will be aiming for a better performance after finishing seventh in Shanghai last weekend.

In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, world champion Faith Cherotich of Kenya will renew her rivalry with Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai after their thrilling battle in Shanghai. Chemutai narrowly defeated Cherotich in a fast race where the top three runners all finished under nine minutes.

The steeplechase field has also attracted Olympic champion Winfred Yavi and former world champion Norah Jeruto, making it one of the toughest races of the meeting.

Elsewhere, Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson will once again face American rival Sha'Carri Richardson in the women’s 200m. Jackson won their last meeting in Shanghai after clocking 22.07 seconds, while Richardson finished fourth.

The men’s 400m will see Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi continue his rivalry with South Africa’s Zakithi Nene.

Fans will also watch the return of three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser, who opens his season against fellow American Joe Kovacs.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, Norwegian star Karsten Warholm will battle Brazil’s Alison dos Santos in another highly anticipated showdown.

Kenya will also have interest in the women’s 1,500m, where world silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi takes on a strong international field.

With many world stars already showing impressive early-season form, the Xiamen Diamond League promises another thrilling weekend of athletics action.