- Emmanuel Wanyonyi overcame all the 2024 Paris Olympic Games medalist to win the 1500m title at the Kingston Grand Slam Track.
- Wanyonyi clocked a time of 3:35.36 to finish ahead of Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker.
- This was Wanyonyi’s first competitive 1500m race outside Kenya.
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi shocked the world on Saturday morning when he ran away with the 1500m title at the Kingston Grand Slam Track in Jamaica.
Wanyonyi, who was competing in his first ever competitive 1500m race outside Kenya, ran a tactical race that saw him turn on the gears in the final stages of the race.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medalist went on to cross the finishing line in an impressive time of 3:35.18.
Wanyonyi’s time was less than 10 seconds slower than the existing world record of 3:26.00 that was set by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj in 1998.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi stuns 1500m favorites at Kingston Grand Slam Track
The 20-year-old was followed by the American duo of Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker, who won a bronze and gold medals respectively in the Paris Olympic Games.
Nuguse crossed the finishing line in 3:35.36 while Hocker clocked a time of 3:35.52 to finish ahead of Britain’s Neil Gourley (3:35.60) and Josh Kerr (3:35.61). Kerr clinched a silver medal in the discipline in last year’s Olympic Games.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi reveals intention to represent Kenya in 1500m race
Speaking after the epic show, Wanyonyi divulged that he will officially switch to the 1500m race soon with his main target being to win a gold medal for Kenya in international events.
“Everything is good because this is my future race, 1500m. I need to run 800m, my PB this year, then maybe I graduate to 1500m.
Even if my coach tells me to run 1500m now, I am ready to run. I need to bring this event home,” he explained.
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Cole Hocker praises Emmanuel Wanyonyi after Kingston Grand Slam Track win
On the other hand, Hocker disclosed that he knew Wanyonyi was well equipped for the 1500m race ahead of the Kingston Grand Slam Track.
When asked whether he had a clue that the Kenyan was going to pull off a performance like that ahead of the field, Hocker stated that it was a likely outcome.
“Today was full of the unknowns and I knew that was a possibility. I am not so naïve to write out a talent like that just because he is an 800m guy.
The best 800m runner in the world, so he is going to be a good 1500m guy as well. Yeah, you never know exactly how it is going to go, but I had a good idea who to watch for, he was on the list,” ended Hocker.
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