Athletic enthusiasts across the globe will have to wait a little bit longer for a showdown between Commonwealth champion Ferdinand Omanyala and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs.
Jacobs pulled out of this Friday’s 100 m at the Diamond League meeting in Florence.
According to the Italian, the reason for his no-show is due to the recovery process he is going through from a back injury.
The Italian athletics federation announced that Jacobs is out of the meet in the Italian city, just over a week after pulling out of the Rabat Diamond League meeting.
“The recovery process for Jacobs, after the problem that emerged in recent days, does not appear to be fully completed yet,” the federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
Jacobs has missed much of the 2022 season and withdrew from the world championships in the US after the 100m heats due the occurring injury.
On the other hand, an in-form Omanyala says he looks forward to bouncing back in Florence after losing his first race of the season, finishing third in Rabat in a race won by American and world champion Fred Kerley.
“Confidence looks like arrogance to people who don’t believe in themselves. We shall rise again. Thank you, Rabat for the memories, see u Florence,” Omanyala posted on Twitter.
As it was in Rabat on 28 May, the focus will be on the men’s 100 m, with reigning world champion Fred Kerley looking to win the face-off against Omanyala.
Two other top American sprinters will join Kerley and Omanyala in Florence – rising sprint star Erriyon Knighton and 110 m hurdles world champion Grant Holloway.
Also expect a scintillating women’s 100 m with British Dina Asher-Smith, Marie-Jose Ta Lou, Americans Aleia Hobbs, and Gabby Thomas in the line-up.
The women’s 400 m hurdles will see world silver medallist Femke Bol seeking another strong performance while Kenya’s world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon is the top pick in the women’s 1500 m.
Also confirmed for the Golden Gala are Olympic medallists Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda), Germany’s long jump queen Malaika Mihambo, and many more in what is set to be one of the most exciting athletics events of 2023.
