Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi rediscovered his triumphant form, storming to victory at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday night to secure his first 800m gold medal of the Wanda season.
Wanyonyi clocked 1:42.19 to win the men’s 800m, finishing ahead of Olympic bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati, who posted a season’s best (SB) of 1:42.31.
American Brandon Miller ran 1:42.55 to finish third.
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The race was Wanyonyi’s first since a disappointing fourth-place finish at the London Diamond League, where he clocked 1:43.31 in the men’s 800m.
“I had a battle, especially over the final 100m, but I felt very strong, and I’m happy to have won the race… I love competing at this Diamond League meeting in Lausanne because this stadium is one of the best for me. The track was very good and, although the weather was a little cool, the conditions were perfect,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi said after the race.
Wanyonyi opened his season on home soil by winning the 1500m at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi with a time of 3:34.11.
He then secured consecutive runner-up finishes in Diamond League action in Rabat (1:43.56) and Oslo (1:42.09), before claiming victory in the 1000m at Monaco in 2:11.83.
Faith Cherotich comes second as Lilian Odira endures a tough outing
Faith Cherotich delivered a thrilling performance in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, ultimately walking away with a hard-fought second-place finish.
Fresh off her gold-medal triumph at the Commonwealth Games, Cherotich took an aggressive approach and controlled the pace early on, leading the pack past the 2,000-meter mark.
The race came down to a tactical final lap, where she went head-to-head with her fierce rival, Olympic champion Winfred Yavi.
Although Cherotich cleared the final barrier cleanly, she was unable to match Yavi’s explosive final kick. She stopped the clock at 9:01.90, finishing just behind Yavi, who set a new meeting record at 9:00.04.
Her fellow Kenyan rising star Doris Lemngole also fought hard against a world-class field, crossing the line in fourth place with a commendable time of 9:07.09.
On the other end, Lilian Odira faced a highly competitive and fast-paced field in the women’s 800m, resulting in a tough seventh-place finish in 1:59.25.
Odira had entered the meeting with great momentum after winning a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, but the intense circuit conditions proved difficult to replicate.
The event was ultimately dominated by local Swiss favorite Audrey Werro, who delighted the home crowd by setting a new meeting record.
Full results for the Kenyans at the 2026 Lausanne Diamond League
Men’s 800m Results
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) – 1:42.19
- Djamel Sedjati (ALG) – 1:42.31 SB
- Brandon Miller (USA) – 1:42.55
- Marco Arop (CAN) – 1:43.18
- Gabriel Tual (FRA) – 1:44.18
- Marino Bloudek (CRO) – 1:44.21 SB
- David Barroso (ESP) – 1:44.63
- Francesco Pernici (ITA) – 1:44.79
Women’s 800m Final Results
- Audrey Werro (SUI) – 1:55.33 MR
- Femke Bol (NED) – 1:55.41 NR
- Saida Tsehaye (ETH) – 1:56.92 PB
- Veronica Vancardo (SUI) – 1:58.68
- Valentina Rosamilia (SUI) – 1:58.93
- Addison Wiley (USA) – 1:59.22
- Lilian Odira (KEN) – 1:59.25
- Prudence Sekgodiso (RSA) – 1:59.58
- Oratile Nowe (BOT) – 2:00.89
- Sage Hurta-Klecker (USA) – 2:02.78
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Results
- Winfred Yavi (BRN) – 9:00.04 MR
- Faith Cherotich (KEN) – 9:01.90
- Marwa Bouzayani (TUN) – 9:05.55
- Doris Lemngole (KEN) – 9:07.09
- Lexy Halladay (USA) – 9:08.35 PB
- Fena Tufa (ETH) – 9:12.69
- Gabrielle Jennings (USA) – 9:15.29
- Elise Thorner (GBR) – 9:18.29
- Olivia Gürth (GER) – 9:22.47
- Lea Meyer (GER) – 9:22.48
Men’s 5000m Final Results
- Birhanu Balew (BRN) – 12:57.55
- Parker Wolfe (USA) – 12:58.20 PB
- Nico Young (USA) – 12:58.33 SB
- Graham Blanks (USA) – 12:59.16
- Cornelius Kemboi (KEN) – 12:59.33
- Mezgébu Sime (ETH) – 12:59.48
- Kuma Girma (ETH) – 13:00.22 SB
- Dominic Lobalu (SUI) – 13:00.73
- Kahiri Bejiga (ETH) – 13:03.27 PB
- Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) – 13:07.21
[…] in 1:42.19, while Cherotich finished second in the women’s steeplechase. Read the full 2026 Lausanne Diamond League results for the latest Kenyan performances before the […]