Rome Diamond League: Omanyala Finishes 3rd as Trayvon Bromell Sets New World Lead

• Ferdinand Omanyala recorded another podium finish in the Diamond League as he finished third in Rome
• Omanyala bounced back after a surprise third-place finish at last weekend's Kipkeino Classic in Nairobi
• Trayvon Bromell set the fastest time in the world this year as the American showed signs of hitting top form again

Ferdinand Omanyala posted another impressive performance at a Diamond League event as he finished third in Rome.

Trayvon Bromell sets new world lead

Trayvon Bromell won the race, setting the fastest time in the world this year as he clocked 9.84 seconds.

That time was two thousandths of a second quicker than the one the previous holder, Kenny Bednarek, used last week in Philadelphia.

Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme was second with 9.99 seconds while Omanyala missed a sub-10 once again, finishing the race with 10.01 seconds.

This was the first Diamond League event of the season that Akani Simbine didn't compete in. The South African has been the most in-form athlete of 2025.

Apart from Bromell and Eseme, the race also had 2022 World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley and Courtney Lindsey, who won the 200m race at the Rabat Diamond League.

Bromell sent out a strong statement of intent by running his fastest race since June 2022. The American is a double world bronze medalist and won the overall Diamond League title in 2022.

The 29-year-old is the sixth-fastest man in history with a time of 9.76 seconds, a time he set when he competed at the 2022 Kipkeino Classic. It was the same event where Omanyala set the fastest time in history, finishing second to Bromell with a time of 9.77 seconds.

"It is a blessing to come out here and put that first. I am glad how I executed the race, it was a great feeling. I have been away for a while now. To be able to compete on a high level. I was nervous; I didn't know what to expect. You know, I ran 9.91, and everybody had these speculations. But I just needed to be the person I am, and I do not expect anything but fast times and execution," he said after the race.

Eseme, the 2023 African Games champion, was contented with his second-place finish after battling a niggling Achilles injury.

"I'm happy with the result—it’s a season’s best, and I thank God for that. But honestly, I was hoping for a better time. I focused on executing the race well, though I’m not sure if the start was as strong as it needed to be. I know I need to work more on both the start and the transition.

I’ve been coming back from an Achilles tendon injury in my right foot, but it’s improving. I missed the indoor season because of it. This was my fourth Diamond League race of the year. I’m grateful to have a great coach and a great manager who helped me get back into the circuit this season"

In another race, Timothy Cheruyiot finished second in the men's 1500m despite leading for the better part of the race. France's Azzedine Habz outdipped the 2019 World Champion on the line to finish with a time of 3:29.72 while Cheruyiot used 3:29.75. Morocco's Anass Essayi was third.

"I am happy even with this result, but I have to say that the French guy surprised me in the last 30m. I need to work on my finish. My season is going well. This is only my second race, so the result is OK. It was a fast and good run," said Cheruyiot.

Beatrice Chebet sets new record in Rome

Beatrice Chebet, meanwhile, blazed to victory in the women's 5000m in astonishing style. Chebet came close to breaking the world record held by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.

Chebet set the second-fastest time in history and a new national record, crossing the line with a time of 14:03.69 to register another win.

Tsegay failed to mount any serious competition, finishing a distant fifth.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke