Wanyonyi set a world-leading time on home soil with his exceptional display.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the reigning World Athletics Rising Stars winner, delivered a stunning performance at the Kip Keino Classic, outpacing seasoned athletes like Ferguson Rotich to claim victory in the men's 800m event on Saturday afternoon.
Wanyonyi showcased his exceptional talent, crossing the finish line first with a world-leading time of 1:43.57. Aaron Cheminingwa followed closely, securing second place with a personal best time of 1:44.10.
17:32 - 20.04.2024
Mary Moraa, Reynold Cheruyot & Abraham Kibiwott stroll to victory at Kip Keino Classic
Moraa and Kibiwot dominated the 800, 1500 and 3000m steeplechase races respectively.
The 19-year-old possesses the world-leading time despite Canada's Marco Arop claiming victory in the 800m of the Diamond League meet opener in Xiamen, China.
Despite finishing third and fourth respectively, Ferguson Rotich and Nicholas Kebenei also set seasonal best records, clocking times of 1:44.90 and 1:45.40.
18:00 - 20.04.2024
Letsile Tebogo falls short to America's Lindsey Courtney in Kip Keino Classic's 200m
Courtney's victory now means he is the current world leader in the event in the category.
The Kenyan contingent continued to impress with Abel Kipsang, Timothy Cheruyiot, and Collins Kipruto finishing fifth, seventh, and eighth respectively. Nkape Tumo and Tom Dradriga rounded out the top nine, finishing sixth and ninth.
Speaking after his remarkable performance, Wanyonyi expressed his surprise at setting a world-leading time, saying, "I didn't expect to run a world lead. I wanted to test my body, and I feel good."
17:00 - 20.04.2024
Zablon Ekwam sets 400m Kenyan meet record at Kip Keino classic to qualify for Olympic games
Ekwam has run an Olympic qualifying time, running sub-45 seconds and setting a new personal best in the process.
He also expressed gratitude towards the fans for their support, emphasizing the importance of their presence at the event. "I want to thank fans for turning up in large numbers to cheer us. We don't take it for granted," Wanyonyi added.
With his impressive victory and promising form, Wanyonyi looks forward to maintaining his momentum and possibly improving ahead of the Olympic trials, setting the stage for exciting competitions in the upcoming athletic season.
13:35 - 20.04.2024
Why Justin Gatlin believes Jamaica are in a better position than Team USA long term for sprints
Gatlin has opined why he thinks Jamaica could dominate track and field over the long-term after a period of drought following the retirement of the likes of Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.