Paris 2024 Olympics: Emmanuel Wanyonyi sets up Marco Arop clash in 800m final

Emmanuel Wanyonyi advanced to the men's 800m semifinals with a strong performance, but Wycliffe Kinyamal failed to advance after finishing third in heat two.

World 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Commonwealth champion Wycliffe Kinyamal took to the starting line of the men’s 800m semifinals on Friday afternoon.

Wanyonyi sailed to the semifinals with a decent display in the qualifying round, while Kinyamal finished third in his heat with a time of 1:45.29.

Despite his efforts, only Wanyonyi secured a spot in the final, with Kinyamal facing the heartbreak of elimination.

Wanyonyi put on a masterclass in the third heat of the semifinals, making it the fastest of all the heats due to his remarkable speed.

The Kenyan sensation stormed to victory with an outstanding time of 1:43.32, securing his spot in the final with ease.

His blistering pace set the tone for the race, pushing his competitors to their limits and leaving no doubt about his intentions for the final.

Wanyonyi’s performance was a display of sheer athleticism and strategic prowess.

The young Kenyan led the race from the front, maintaining a blistering pace that left his competitors struggling to keep up.

His confidence on the track was evident as he surged ahead in the final 200 meters comfortably crossing the finish line with a substantial lead.

Behind Wanyonyi, the race for the remaining automatic qualification spots was fierce.

Bryce Hoppel from the USA finished second, also securing his place in the final with an impressive time of 1:43.41.

Hoppel’s strong finish ensured that he stayed ahead of Max Burgin from Great Britain, who ran a personal best, clocking 1:43.50 to secure third place.

Burgin’s performance was strong enough to advance him to the final as one of the fastest losers, marking a significant achievement for the British athlete.

The third heat also saw notable performances from Mohamed Attaoui of Spain, who finished fourth with a time of 1:43.69, and Elliott Crestan from Belgium, who was just behind with a time of 1:43.72.

Despite not making the top two these athletes posted competitive times that kept them in contention for the final highlighting the depth of talent in the 800m event this year.

Peyton Craig from Australia, Kethobogile Haingura from Botswana, and Simone Barontini from Italy rounded out the field, with Craig achieving a personal best of 1:44.11.

Despite their best efforts, these athletes fell short of making it to the final, a testament to the high level of competition in the semifinals.

Wycliffe Kinyamal faced a tougher challenge in Heat Two of the semifinals.

Despite putting on a strong performance and finishing third with a time of 1:45.29, Kinyamal was unable to secure automatic qualification to the final.

Marco Arop from Canada led the race, clinching first place with a time of 1:45.05, followed closely by Gabriel Tual of France, who finished second with a time of 1:45.16.

Kinyamal’s time, although competitive, was not enough to advance as one of the fastest losers, dashing his hopes of joining Wanyonyi in the final.

The disappointment was palpable as Kinyamal, along with other athletes like Edmund du Plessis from South Africa, who finished fourth with a time of 1:45.34, and Elliot Giles from Great Britain, who came in fifth with a time of 1:45.46, realized their journey in the competition had come to an end.

In Heat One, the race was equally intense as athletes battled for a coveted spot in the final.

Djamel Sedjati from Algeria emerged as the winner, clocking an impressive time of 1:45.08, securing his place in the final.

Tshepiso Masalela from Botswana finished right on his heels with a strong time of 1:45.33, ensuring his advancement.

Catalin Tecuceanu from Italy ran a solid race, finishing third with a time of 1:45.38, but just missing the automatic qualification.

Despite their efforts, Tecuceanu, along with Ben Pattison of Great Britain and Brandon Miller from the United States, would see their hopes of making the final dashed.

The pressure on Wanyonyi and Kinyamal was immense, given Kenya’s storied history in the 800m, with legends like Wilfred Bungei, David Rudisha, and Emmanuel Korir having set the bar high in previous Olympics.