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The KDF athlete's name was conspicuously missing from start lists released Friday morning.
Kenyan sprinter Samuel Imeta has been dropped from Kip Keino Classic 100m start list for unknown reasons just one day to the highly publicized event.
The 24-year-old Kenya Army officer has been Ferdinand Omanyala’s understudy in the event and was in the process of cementing his name among African greats in 100m.
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He recently pinned his personal best time of 10.10 over the distance after a couple of very impressive shows in the ASA Grand Prix races in South Africa and Botswana.
Organizers of the event remained tight lipped over Imeta’s withdrawal while Athletics Kenya have also steered clear of commenting on the same.
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05:45 - 02.05.2023
ATHLETICS Fast-rising Kenya Army sprinter knocking on sub 10 seconds in 100m after another great Grand Prix outing
The win at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix saw Imeta set a Personal Best time of 10.10.
Imeta who calls himself Kifaru (Rhino) was on the hunt for World Championships qualifying time and saw the Kip Keino Classic as the best place to do it.
Not yet fine enough to land invitations to the Diamond League Meetings, the world class cast invited for Kip Keino Classic 100m was his best route to Budapest.
The likes of Kenneth Bednarek, Marvin Bracy-Williams and Brandon Carnes of USA will participate in the 100m race alongside Omanyala. Also in the start list are Canadian Jerome Blake and Frenchman Pablo Mateo while Emmanuel Esseme will join the Kenyans lining up for the 100m dash as the only other participant from Africa.
Imeta who won the African 4X100m title has been replaced in the race by Steven Odhiambo who has a personal best time of 10.39s.
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18:23 - 08.05.2023
ATHLETICS ‘Come and see what fast means’ - Omanyala promises fireworks at Kip Keino Classic
The 26-year-old has hinted at lowering his African record at the Continental Tour meeting in Nairobi.
Omanyala is the favorite for 100m title after laying down a marker in Botswana with a personal best time of 9.77m. His official season’s best remains 10.05 though as wind speed calculations heralded controversy over the times posted.
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Bednarek, boasting 9.80 personal best time and a 10.05 season’s best will closely challenge the African record holder with Marvin Bracy-Williams whose unofficial 9.80 PB raising alarm bells for the two top rated stars.
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