Paris 2024: Omanyala eases to Olympics 100m semis as Moraa and Odira shine in 800m

(From L) Panama's Arturo Harmodio Deliser Espinosa, Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala and Italy's Chituru Ali compete in the men's 100m heat of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 3, 2024. [AFP]

Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala on Saturday eased through to the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Olympics 100m.

Omanyala clocked 10.08 to win his heat in the 100m dash ahead of Italian Ali Chituru and Joshua Hartmann who crossed the finishing line second and third respectively.

The African fastest man was off the blocks and surged to control the race but after seeing off the competition, he slowed down towards the finish line to join US star Noah Lyles, Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy and Jamaica's Kishane Thompson in the semis.

Jamaica’s Thompson, the fastest man this year with his 9.77seconds, sailed through comfortably winning his heat in 10.00sec.

Lyles on the other hand labored through to make the semis after a slow start when he finished second behind British champion Louie Hinchliffe.

The Briton clocked 9.98 seconds while Lyles finished second in 10.04sec.

Elsewhere, Mary Moraa and Lilian Odira qualified for the 800m semifinals.

Moraa clocked 1:57.95 to finish second behind Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma.

Odira on the other hand made it to the semis after running a personal best of 1:58.83.