At the Kenyan Athletics Olympic Trials in Nairobi, teenager Emmanuel Wanyonyi made headlines by running the fastest 800 metres since 2012, securing his place at the Paris Olympics. The 19-year-old clocked an impressive 1:41.70 on Saturday, making him the third-fastest man ever in the event, despite nearly failing to qualify after tripping in the semi-finals.

“If I didn’t fall yesterday, I would not have run like this today, so everything happens for a reason,” Wanyonyi reflected on his performance. Only Kenya’s two-time Olympic champion David Rudisha and Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer have posted faster times. Rudisha holds the world record of 1:40.91 and the second- and third-fastest times, while Kipketer’s 1:41.11 ranks fourth.

Other Highlights from the Trials

Ferdinand Omanyala:
Sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala also qualified for the Kenyan team, setting a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds in the men’s 100 metres. This performance indicates a return to form for the 28-year-old, who set the African record of 9.77 seconds 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,” Omanyala stated.

Faith Kipyegon:
Double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon also had a successful trial, winning both the 1500m and 5,000m races. She finished the 1500m with a time of 3:53.99, just short of her world record of 3:49.11. “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,” Kipyegon said.

Kipyegon is optimistic about maintaining her form heading into the Paris Olympics, where she aims to chase two medals.

Mary Moraa:
In the women’s 800m, world champion Mary Moraa qualified for the Paris Olympics, finishing in second place, with her sister Sarah Moraa securing third.

The athletics competition at the Paris Olympics will be held at the Stade de France from August 1-11, 2024.