Kenya’s elite track stars take centre stage tonight at the Rome Diamond League, with Beatrice Chebet and Ferdinand Omanyala leading a formidable lineup against top global competition at the iconic Stadio Olimpico.
In the women’s 5,000 metres, Chebet squares off in a much-anticipated duel with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the world record holder. Chebet comes into the race with strong momentum, having secured a commanding win in Xiamen and broken the African 3,000m record in Rabat earlier this season. She is joined by compatriot Margaret Akidor, in a stacked field also featuring athletes from Uganda, Italy, Burundi, and the United States.
In the sprints, Kenya’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will battle it out in the men’s 100 metres against a powerhouse American contingent including former world champion Fred Kerley and Olympic finalist Trayvon Bromell. Both Americans boast personal bests of 9.76 seconds, while Omanyala’s national record stands at 9.77 seconds.
Also featuring in the men’s 100m lineup are Brandon Hicklin, Courtney Lindsey, and sprinters from Japan, Cameroon, and Italy.
Kenya is also well represented in the middle-distance events. In the men’s 1,500 metres, former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen, and rising talent Reynold Cheruiyot are in action. On the women’s side, Purity Chepkirui and Susan Lokayo Ejore are set to compete in a deep international field.
The Rome Golden Gala, one of the most prestigious stops in the Wanda Diamond League series, is not just about medals. For Kenyan athletes, it’s a crucial opportunity to gain Diamond League points and sharpen form ahead of the 2025 World Championships.
