Omanyala to face Olympic champion Jacobs in Lievin meeting

African 100 metres reigning champion Ferdinand Omanyala is likely to face his rival and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in the men’s 60 m final at the Meeting Lievin Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais on Wednesday.

Jacobs who is making a comeback after a long lay-off due to injury claimed victory at the Orlen Copernicus Cup last week, winning in 6.57 seconds after clocking 6.61 in the event semifinals.

On the other hand, Omanyala will be eyeing a third consecutive victory in the 60 m indoor events this year.

Jacobs won last year’s meet in a personal best time of 6.50 while Omanyala finished fourth, clocking 6.57 to mark the national record time.

The Italian went on to clinch the World Indoor Championships gold in Belgrade, Serbia in 6.41 seconds.

However, this year, Omanyala has showcased his fine form with a second-place finish in Miramas before winning the next two indoor events in Mondeville and Meeting de Paris.

Omanyala went on to break the national record in Mondeville, winning in 6.55 seconds.

Only time can tell who will emerge victorious in the much-awaited race between the two world’s best sprinters.

In other races, Kenyan 800 metres champion Mary Moraa, who finished fourth in 2:01.51 on her debut in the World Indoor Tour at Orlen Copernicus Cup in Poland on February 8 will be hoping to improve her time when she meets former world 800 m champion Halimah Nakaayi from Uganda.

Moraa, who is also the world 800 m bronze medallist, is also eying a better show as she targets to run under two minutes after her 2:01 opener.

Last weekend Nakaayi finished fifth behind Moraa in Orlen in 2:01.64 before going on to win in Val de Reuil, France in a World leading time of 1.59.55.

Moraa will look to improve on her indoor event debut last week.

Other Kenyans expected to line up tonight will be World Indoor 1500 m bronze medallist Abel Kipsang as he lines up against Norwegian international Jakob Ingebritsen.

Ingebritsen set the world record time of 3:30.60 last season at the same event and is looking forward to winning the World Athletics championships gold in Budapest later this year.