TOKYO2025: Wanyonyi cruises into 800m semis as Loti, Kebenei bolster Kenya’s bid to reclaim world title
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 16.09.25. | 14:44
The result ensured the exciting youngster progressed with ease to the semifinals, keeping alive his bid to add a world title to his Olympic crown
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi underlined his status as the man to beat in the men’s 800m after powering to the semifinals of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo on Tuesday, 16 September.
The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, drawn in heat four, displayed patience and authority before unleashing his trademark kick to win the race in 1:45.05.
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Starting from lane eight, Wanyonyi settled into second place in the early stages behind Ireland’s Mark English, with Ryan Clarke slotting into third.
After the bell, Algeria’s Mohammed Ali surged forward and appeared set to win the race.
However, Wanyonyi responded in typical fashion, kicking hard in the home stretch to reclaim the lead and seal a comfortable win.
Italy’s Francesco Pernici crossed second in 1:45.11, while English held on for third in 1:45.13.
The result ensured the exciting youngster progressed with ease to the semifinals, keeping alive his bid to add a world title to his Olympic crown.
At just 20 years old, Wanyonyi is already an Olympic champion, World U20 gold medallist, Diamond League champion, and a World Athletics silver medalist.
He is now two wins away from winning an accolade that is missing from his glittering résumé: the senior World Championships title.
Kenya’s other representatives had mixed fortunes. Alex Kipng’etich, competing in heat one, finished sixth in 1:45.94 and consequently, failed to advance.
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The race was won by Spain’s David Barroso in 1:44.94, with Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati (1:45.01) and Botswana’s Haingura Kethobogile (1:45.02) taking second and third, respectively.
Kelvin Kimtai Loti, however, ensured Kenya had a second semifinalist after placing second in heat two.
Poland’s Maciej Wyderka claimed victory in heat three in 1:46.30, followed by Britain’s Ben Pattison (1:46.51) and France’s Gabriel Tual (1:46.54).
Meanwhile, Nicholas Kiplangat Kebenei also qualified despite finishing fourth in 1:44.91, just a fraction of a second behind Marino Bloudek, who secured third place in 1:44.78.
He qualified as one of the fastest losers.
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The race was won by American and the 2019 champion Donavan Brazier in 1:44.66, with Algeria’s Slimane Moula claiming second place in 1:44.77.
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