What Ferdinand Omanyala & Beatrice Chepkoech will pocket from stunning wins in Zagreb

© World Athletics.

ATHLETICS What Ferdinand Omanyala & Beatrice Chepkoech will pocket from stunning wins in Zagreb

Joel Omotto 16:33 - 11.09.2023

Omanyala and Chepkoech are set to boost their bank balances substantially following their impressive performances at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Croatia on Sunday.

Ferdinand Omanyala and Beatrice Chepkoech each walked away with just over Ksh500,000 from winning their races at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia on Sunday.

Africa's fastest man, Omanyala clocked an impressive 9.94 seconds to clinch victory in the men's 100m race while Chepkoech, the world 3,000m steeplechase record-holder, broke another world record after shattering the 2,000m steeplechase mark.

In the highly-anticipated 100m, Omanyala outpaced the talented Oblique Seville, who finished in 10.07 seconds to settle for second place while Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy secured third place with a time of 10.08s.

Chepkoech, meanwhile, clocked 5:47.42 to win the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting following a dominant display that her rivals struggled to cope with.

The 32-year-old went into the event targeting the mark of 5:52.80 that had been achieved by Gesa Felicitas Krause in 2019 and she attacked it from the start.

Following the wins, the two are guaranteed at least $4,000 (Ksh585,600) that comes with finishing first at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting but Chepkoech will take home much more having broken the world record.

“The following shall be at the organiser’s discretion: For middle distance races, awards for athletes finishing in places nine through 12 and bonuses for breaking a World Record,” reads part of World Athletics guidelines on Continental Tour Meetings which means orgainisers will decide how much more to award Kipkocech for the world record.

“Prize money shall be paid within 30 days of receipt of the doping control clearance from the Athletics Integrity Unit and complete invoices which must comply with the communicated legal, fiscal, and procedural requirements of the organiser.”

As witnessed in various competitions, world records attract much more than the winner’s prize which means the 2019 world steeplechase champion could walk away with millions from her Zagreb assignment.

The prizes range from $4,000 for first place up to $400 (Ksh58,560) for eighth place and the runners also have their flight tickets and accommodation taken care of by the event organisers.

Both athletes are coming from difficult experiences, Omanyala still recovering from his seventh place at the 2023 World Championships, while Chepkoech is getting back in form after an injury-ravaged 2022. She claimed silver in 3,000m steeplechase at the global event in Budapest, Hungary.

Kenya’s Winnie Jemutai, who finished second to Chepkoech, will pocket $2,000 (Ksh292,800) for her efforts.