Kenyan sprinter Ferdinan Omañala, African record holder in the 100m, received a US visa at the last minute and will fly to Eugene for the World Championships in Athletics starting on Friday.

Omanyala told AFP in the morning that he had not received his visa and was therefore too late to travel to the United States.

“I decided not to go to Oregon. Even if I get my visa today, it’s too late,” he said, noting that Friday’s 100m qualification falls on the first day of competition.

“I can’t do anything,” he added. “This is the longest day of waiting for me, and I don’t like to wait.”

He concluded: “I have accepted the situation and my focus will now be on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham” scheduled for 28 August next year.

But he managed to get it a few hours later, according to his coach Duncan Aimba, who told AFP: “Omañala was called to the sports ministry on Thursday and received a visa that entitles him to travel. on Thursday evening, and tomorrow morning he will arrive in Oregon.

And Omañala has the third best time this year in the 100m with a time of 9.85 seconds, which he recorded last May.

Omañala holds the African record of 9.77 seconds since last September and is the eighth fastest sprinter in history behind four Americans and three Jamaicans.

Umanyala became the first Kenyan runner known for distance runners and marathon runners to reach the semi-finals in the 100m at the Olympic Games, notably Tokyo 2021.