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Kenyan Teen Sets Record as Third-Fastest in 800m History
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1/1/2035
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, a teenager, recorded the fastest 800 meters since 2012 at the Kenyan Athletics Olympics Trials in Nairobi on Saturday, securing his qualification for the Paris Games. Credit:worldathletics
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, a rising teenage athlete, delivered an impressive performance at the Kenyan Athletics Olympics Trials in Nairobi on Saturday, recording the fastest 800 meters time since 2012. Despite nearly missing out on the finals after a fall during Friday’s semi-finals, Wanyonyi clocked an extraordinary 1:41.70, making him the third-fastest man in the event's history.
Reflecting on his achievement, the 19-year-old said,
“If I didn’t fall yesterday, I would not have run like this today, so everything happens for a reason.”
Only Kenya’s two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha and Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer have run faster. Rudisha holds the world record at 1:40.91 and has also run the second- and third-fastest times, while Kipketer has the fourth-fastest time of 1:41.11.
Joining Wanyonyi on the Kenyan team is sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala. He set a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds in the men’s 100 meters, showing a return to the form that saw him set the African record of 9.77 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi in 2021.
“I feel great, but I just feel like we can go faster. Today was just a confirmation of what is coming because this part of the season we did not do much,”
the 28-year-old stated.
Middle- and long-distance runner Faith Kipyegon also secured her place for Paris. The double Olympic champion is aiming for a successful summer, after winning both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters at the trials.
Kipyegon clocked 3:53.99 in the 1500 meters, close to her world record time of 3:49.11. She remarked,
“I wanted to execute as fast as possible and see what was possible at the finish line. Because people think that you can’t run fast at high altitudes, but I wanted to see if I can run fast or if the weather is going to affect me in any way.”
She expressed hope that she can maintain her current form heading into the Olympics.
Mary Moraa, the women's 800 meters world champion, also qualified for the Paris Games, finishing second. Her sister, Sarah Moraa, took third place.
The athletics competition at the Paris Olympics will be held at the Stade de France from August 1-11, 2024.
