Wanyonyi, Arop renew DL rivalry in loaded Monaco field
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 10.07.25. | 07:55
The Kenyan is looking to defend his series title while also preparing for his World title campaign in Tokyo
For the first time this season in the Wanda Diamond League (DL), Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and silver medalist Marco Arop will clash in Monaco on Friday, 11 July.
Wanyonyi will be looking to get back to winning ways in his specialty, against is toughest rival yet, the Canadian, after losing to him in their last meeting back in April at the Kingston Grand Slam. The Kenyan finished third in his next race, in Rabat, albeit while under the weather, in a race won by Botswana's Tshepiso Masalela in 1:42.70.
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However, Oslo and Stockholm DL restored his dominance in the distance. The world silver medalist won both races, clocking 1:42.78 before posting the fifth fastest time, a 1:41.95 world lead in his latest race.
On his part, Arop is buoyed by his latest win in the distance, a 1:43.38 season best at the Philadephia Grand Slam on Sunday, 6 July. He finished just over a second ahead of world indoor champion American Josh Hoey as the podium was completed by another American, Yared Nuguse.
The world champion, Arop, is undefeated over 800m this year, and his DL debut of the season should be one for the books.
The duo is joined in contest by Olympic bronze medalist Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati who is out to defend his title in Monaco where he set a meeting record of 1:41.46 last year. He finished second to Wanyonyi in Stockholm last month, clocking a season’s best of 1:42.27, his fastest time since the Olympic final.
The field also includes two other men who broke 1:42 last year; France’s Gabriel Tual and USA’s Bryce Hoppel. The addition of Hoey and Algeria’s Slimane Moula means there will be eight men with sub-1:43 PBs on the start line.
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