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Young Kenyan Becomes Third-Fastest Man in History in 800-Meter Race

11:39, 17 June 2024

Christina Glazkova

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Last December, the World Athletics Association named Kenyan 19-year-old athlete Emmanuel Wanyonyi, alongside his compatriot and peer Faith Cherotich, as the Rising Stars of 2023.

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19-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the 800 meters at the 2024 Athletics Kenya Olympic Trials with a time of 1 minute and 41.70 seconds last Saturday in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, making him the third-fastest 800 m runner of all time, state body Athletics Kenya reported.

This was despite a poor showing in the semi-finals the day before.

"If I didn’t fall yesterday, I would not have run like this today, so everything happens for a reason," he was quoted as saying.

Wanyonyi thus qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics. In 2023, the athlete won a silver medal at the World Championships.

The world record for the 800 meters is currently held by another Kenyan, David Rudisha. His time is 1 minute, 40.91 seconds. The record was set in 2012.

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Earlier in June, Rwanda's capital, Kigali, hosted the 19th International Peace Marathon, where Kenyan runners also took top positions. Laban Korir won the full men's marathon in 02:16:06, while Joan Kipyatich won the women's marathon in 02:33:27.

Moreover, the men's half-marathon was won by Kenyan Langat Francis, and the women's half-marathon was won by his fellow countrywoman Moseti Winfrida.

In the men's full marathon, five Kenyans finished in the top eight. In the women's full marathon, four Kenyan racers finished in the top eight.