African top sprinter has visa but in race against time to make worlds

DPAMunichLeading African sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya is on his way to the world championships after overcoming United States visa problems.Omanyala had to wait for his visa a long time and got it only shortly before the 100 metres heats scheduled for Friday, the opening day of the championships in Eugene, Oregon."Onto the next flight to Oregon. Am positive that I will compete,” Omanyala tweeted on Thursday. "Thanks so much for your support and prayers.” He was reportedly set to leave Kenya later Thursday and would only arrive in Eugene a few hours before his heat, with the semi-finals and final then scheduled for Saturday.Omanyala has run 9.85 seconds this year, making him the fastest African of the year and joint third best overall. Only Americans Fred Kerley (9.76) and Trayvon Bromell (9.81) have run faster in 2022.Dutch star Hassan aiming to repeat Olympic distance double Dutch runner Sifan Hassan will aim for a long-distance double at the upcoming world championships, her management confirmed on Thursday.Hassan claimed a 5,000 and 10,000 metres double at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo, plus 1,500m bronze. At the last worlds 2019 in Doha she won the 1,500m and 10,000m.The 10,000m final at the worlds in Eugene is on Saturday, the 5,000m heats next week Wednesday and the final three days later.Five stars expected to light up the arena Eugene’s Hayward Field hosts the world championships which start on Friday. A look at five global stars who are expected to make an impact at Oregon22.Faith Kipyegon The Kenyan has been unbeaten since retaining her 1500m Olympic crown and is looking to upgrade the silver she won three years ago when she had just returned following a 21-month maternity break.In Tokyo last year she became the first woman and only the second athlete to claim consecutive Olympic 1500m titles after Sebastien Coe.Christian Coleman All eyes will be on the defending 100m champion, back at a major championships for the first time since his ban for missing three drugs tests ended last year.He has still only run the eighth fastest time this year but it will be difficult to write off the American after he won the US trials.Shericka Jackson The sprint star is on fire this year and ran the third fastest 200m in the world when she clocked 21.55 seconds at Jamaica’s trials last month.She dropped down from the 400m last year, having claimed 400m bronze in Doha three years ago, and was third in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics.Wayde van Niekerk Fit again, the 2016 Olympic champion and 400m world record holder is a favourite to make the podium.He has struggled since a knee injury in 2019 forced him to miss the World Championships in Doha and he could only reach the semi-final in Tokyo last year but a fit van Niekerk is a force.Sydney McLaughlin The 22-year-old broke her own 400m hurdles world record, which she set at the Olympics, by posting 51.41 seconds at the US trials last month.That it was at Hayward Field suggests the record could be on the line again, and she has not lost a race since coming second at the World Championships in Doha. (PA Media/DPA)