Rome Diamond League: Omanyala Takes Third as Bromell Snags World's Fastest Time

• Ferdinand Omanyala secured another podium spot in the Diamond League with a third-place finish in Rome.
• After unexpectedly securing third place at last weekend's Kipkeino Classic in Nairobi, Omanyala made a strong comeback.
• Treyson Bromell posted the quickest time globally this season, indicating he may be regaining his best form once more.

Ferdinand Omanyala delivered yet another outstanding display at a Diamond League competition, securing third place in Rome.

Trayvon Bromell sets new world lead

Trayvon Bromell won the race, setting the fastest time in the world this year as he clocked 9.84 seconds. That time was two thousandths of a second quicker than the one the previous holder, Kenny Bednarek, used last week in Philadelphia.

Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon came in second place with a time of 9.99 seconds, whereas Omanyala failed to break the 10-second mark yet again, completing the race in 10.01 seconds.

This was the first Diamond League event of the season that Akani Simbine didn't compete in. The South African has been the most in-form athlete of 2025.

In addition to Bromell and Eseme, the competition featured Fred Kerley, the 2022 World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist, as well as Courtney Lindsey, who triumphed in the 200m event at the Rabat Diamond League.

Bromell made a bold declaration of his intentions by clocking his quickest time since last June. He is an accomplished athlete, having earned two World Championship bronze medals and claiming the overall Diamond League crown in 2022 as an American competitor.

The athlete, who is 29 years old, ranks as the sixth-quickest person globally, having clocked a time of 9.76 seconds. This performance took place during his participation in the 2022 Kipkeino Classic. In that very competition, Omanyala achieved what stood as the world record until then, coming in just behind Bromell after completing the race in 9.77 seconds.

"It is a blessing to come out here and put that first. I am glad how I executed the race, it was a great feeling. I have been away for a while now. To be able to compete on a high level. I was nervous; I didn't know what to expect. You know, I ran 9.91, and everybody had these speculations. But I just needed to be the person I am, and I do not expect anything but fast times and execution," he said after the race.

Eseme, the 2023 African Games champion, was contented with his second-place finish after battling a niggling Achilles injury.

"I'm happy with the result—it’s a season’s best, and I thank God for that. But honestly, I was hoping for a better time. I focused on executing the race well, though I’m not sure if the start was as strong as it needed to be. I know I need to work more on both the start and the transition.

I've been recovering from an Achilles tendon injury in my right foot, which has shown improvement over time. Due to this setback, I couldn’t participate in the indoor season. This particular event marked my fourth appearance at the Diamond League races for the year. I feel fortunate to have both a fantastic coach and an excellent manager supporting me as I returned to competition this season.

In another race, Timothy Cheruyiot finished second in the men's 1500m despite leading for the better part of the race. France's Azzedine Habz outdipped the 2019 World Champion on the line to finish with a time of 3:29.72 while Cheruyiot used 3:29.75. Morocco's Anass Essayi was third.

“I’m content with this outcome, though the Frenchman did catch me off guard in the final 30 meters. I realize I need to improve my sprint. Overall, the season is progressing nicely. Considering this is just my second competition, the result is satisfactory. It turned out to be a swift and solid performance,” stated Cheruiyot.

Beatrice Chebet establishes a new record in Rome

Meanwhile, Beatrice Chebet surged to triumph in the women's 5000m race with astounding flair. She nearly shattered the world record set by Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay.

Chebet recorded the second-quickest time ever and established a new national record, finishing with a mark of 14:03.69 for her additional victory.

Tsegay was unable to put up significant competition and ended up finishing considerably behind in fifth place.