Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a sensational performance at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, clocking a world-leading time and setting a new Meeting Record.
Wanyonyi, who has been chasing David Rudisha’s long-standing World Record of 1:40.91, ran a smart and controlled race. Taking over from the pacemakers at the halfway mark, the Kenyan powered to the front and never looked back, crossing the finish line in a blistering 1:41.44 — the fastest time in the world this year.
American Josh Hoey produced a lifetime best of 1:42.01 to take second place, while Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati was third in 1:42.20. World Champion and Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop of Canada finished fifth in 1:42.73.
In the women’s 1000m, Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir continued her impressive form by staging a strong comeback to win in a Personal Best time of 2:29.77. American Addison Wiley finished second in an Area Record of 2:30.71, while Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull of Australia took third in 2:30.96.
World 800m Champion Mary Moraa, who led the race in the early stages, faded in the final lap and finished last in a disappointing outing.
Meanwhile, in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Kenya’s Edmund Serem claimed third place with a Personal Best of 8:04.00. Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali showed his class once again, winning the race in 8:03.18.
