Call him ‘Win-Nyonyi’ 800m specialist flows 1500m Olympic podium

Kenyan star Emmanuel Wanyonyi tore up the script to surprise the field in the men’s 1500m race at the inaugural Kingston Grand Slam Track Meeting, on Saturday at the Independence Park National Stadium, Jamaica.. Wanyonyi, the Olympic 800m champion, sprinted down the home straight and no one could live with his pace as he crossed the line in a lifetime best of 3:35.18.

The 20 year-old who was making his international debut over the distance took down some big scalps, including the US duo of Yared Naguse, the Olympic bronze medalist, who clinched second in 3:35.36 and Olympic champion Cole Hocker, who finished third in 3:35.52. World champion Josh Kerr was fifth in 3:35.61.

“Everything is good because this is my future race – the 1500m,” said Wanyonyi the 2023 World 800m silver medalist. “I need to bring this event home and also set a new PB in the 1,500m race.”

However, before he transitions into the three-and-three-quarter laps race, Wanyonyi aims for a new personal best in his specialty- the 800m race. “I need to run a PB in the two-lap race this year before thinking of the 1,500m. Even my coach says I need to set an 800m PB in 2025.”

For context, Wanyonyi is already at 1:41.11- the number three on the all time fastest runners in the race. He is 0.20s away from David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91. Wanyonyi’s time ties him with Wilson Kipketer.

Ever since he mad his debut in the 800m race at the World Under 20 Championships in Nairobi in 2021, Wanyonyi has established himself as one of the giants in the two-laps race with his final kick. He has even been dupped ‘the new Rudisha’.

On the second night of the Jamaican series, four champions – Matthew Hudson-Smith, Gabby Thomas, Kenny Bednarek and Diribe Welteji.

Kenny Bednarek, having conquered the 100m field the previous evening, was more at ease competing in his specialty, the 200m, in the ‘short sprint’ category. The two-time Olympic silver medalist ran a blinding curve, which gave him a comfortable lead entering the straight. He pulled away even further to burst the tape in 20.07 (+0.2m/s). Britain’s Zharnel Hughes was runner-up in a season’s best of 20.37, which saw him finish second overall in the men’s short sprint category.

Great Britain’s Hudson-Smith ran a storming home straight to overhaul Trinidadian Jereem Richards a few meters from the finish line to take the 200m in the men’s ‘long sprint’ category and US$100,000 prize money in 20.77 (-3.3m/s).

“The 200m is my baby, that’s how I originally came up in the sport,” said Hudson-Smith, who was making his second visit to Jamaica. “This is what I needed. I came here to execute and race against the best in the world. We don’t have many opportunities to race each other because many people duck, but Grand Slam Track forces you to be here, and that’s what will help you later in the season.”

Diribe Weltiji, who finished a close second in the 800m on Friday, made no mistake in the 1500m as she completed an authoritative win in 4:04.51. The victory ensured the Ethiopian supplanted 800m winner Nikki Hiltz in the overall ‘short distance’ standings with 20 points and collected the US$100K top prize. Hiltz, who needed to finish in the top two to earn at least a share of the top prize money, crossed the line third in 4:05.39, amassing 18 points overall.

Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain produced the individual performance of the meet so far when she stunned a quality field to take the women’s 400m in a world-leading 48.67. Naser, who opened her season last week with a 48.94 run in Bayaguane, stepped on the accelerator from the gun and only slowed after crossing the line.

USA’s Gabby Thomas followed in Naser’s wake to run a PB of 49.14 and, more importantly, pocketed the overall US$100K top prize after accumulating 20 points over two events, with Naser finishing second overall with 17 points. “After yesterday’s race, I was so mad with myself because I knew I could do better,” said an awestruck Naser. “Coming out here and running this time, I feel fulfilled for yesterday.”