Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the teenage sensation from Kenya, returns to Paris with high hopes of extending his impressive winning streak at the Wanda Diamond League meeting this Sunday.
Like his compatriot Faith Kipyegon, Wanyonyi has a special connection to the City of Lights, having claimed victory in the 800m last year with a personal best of 1:43.27.
Wanyonyi’s rise has been meteoric since that win. He secured a world silver medal in Budapest and has remained undefeated in subsequent races, achieving victories in Xiamen, Eugene, Nairobi, and Marrakech.
His most recent triumph came at the Kenyan Olympic Trials, where he clocked an astonishing 1:41.70, catapulting him to third place on the world all-time list for the 800m.
As Wanyonyi prepares to take on the field at the Stade Charlety, he will face stiff competition from a lineup of elite athletes. Among them is two-time Commonwealth champion Wyclife Kinyamal, who finished second at the Kenyan Trials with a personal best of 1:42.50.
Also competing are newly crowned European champion Gabriel Tual, 2022 world silver medallist Djamel Sedjati, and world indoor silver medallist Andreas Kramer.
The Paris meeting will not only witness Wanyonyi’s quest for dominance but also feature two thrilling steeplechase races. In the women’s event, world champion Winfred Yavi will go head-to-head with world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech.
Yavi has only contested one steeplechase race this year, posting a time of 9:21.62 in Eugene, but she has recently improved her 5000m personal best to 14:41.99. Chepkoech, on the other hand, has been in fine form, clocking 8:55.40 in Xiamen and setting a 1500m personal best of 3:59.73.
Joining the fray in the women’s steeplechase are Commonwealth champion Jackline Chepkoech, European champion Alice Finot, and USA’s Gabrielle Jennings, promising an exciting and competitive race.
The men’s steeplechase will feature world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot, African Games silver medallist Amos Serem, Japanese record-holder Ryuji Miura, world indoor 1500m champion Geordie Beamish, and in-form Tunisian Mohamed Amine Jihnaoui.
This strong field sets the stage for a thrilling contest as athletes vie for supremacy at the Stade Charlety.
As the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games continues, the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Paris serves as a crucial platform for athletes like Wanyonyi to showcase their talents and fine-tune their performances.
For Wanyonyi, maintaining his unbeaten streak will not only bolster his confidence but also solidify his status as one of the premier 800m runners in the world. With a history of remarkable achievements in Paris, Wanyonyi is poised to deliver yet another memorable performance on Sunday.
Source: World Athletics
