Kenya’s Wanyonyi Blasts to Third Fastest 800m Race of All Time

Date: 17 June 2024 - 22:05

News ID: ۱۲۸۴۳۶

NAIROBI (AFP) - World Athletics Championships
silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi dropped the third fastest men’s 800m performance in history to storm to the Paris 2024 Olympics as the two-day Kenyan track and field trials wrapped up on a sensational day.
Wanyonyi, 19, motored around the Nyayo National Stadium track to stop the clock at a staggering one minute and 41.70 seconds, the fastest time run since countryman David Rudisha, who was watching from the stands, set the 1:40.91 world record in the final of the London 2012 Olympics.
The teenager now trails Rudisha and former world record holder, Kenyan-born Dane Wilson Kipketer (1:41.11) in the all-time list as he underlined his credentials on the way to his first Olympics in Paris.
His barnstorming performance was all and more jaw-dropping considering he was only reinstated to Saturday’s final on appeal after being tripped with 50m to go in Friday’s semifinals where he slumped to a sixth finish.
“Today’s performance was redemption after being tripped on Friday. My leg is still a bit swollen. Everything happens for a reason. If I had been tripped today, I might have missed the Olympics,” Wanyonyi told reporters after the race.
Italian coach Claudio Berardelli said Wanyonyi is a generational talent like Rudisha or Kipyegon.
Two-time Commonwealth champion, Wycliffe Kinyamal followed Wanyonyi home in 1:42.50, the third quickest time at high altitude to book his automatic Olympic ticket with Koitatoi Kidali rounding off the podium in a brisk 1:42.66.