NAIROBI, Kenya, November 3 – Despite victory at the third leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series in Iten, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is taking it easy ahead of the new season.
Wanyonyi says he is not too obsessed with crossing the finish line first but is sharpening his fitness ahead of another busy year for him.
“I was not really looking to win today’s race but was working on my sharpness…on my endurance. I only came to run and see what result I could get from the race. I told myself…whatever happens, happens,” the 20-year-old said.
Wanyonyi clocked 05:50.6 to win the men’s 2km loop, in what was a sprint finish between him and Kamar Etiang.
Etiang had to be content with second place, timing 05:51.0, as youngster Phanuel Koech finished third after clocking 05:54.3.
Wanyonyi was competing for the first time since he won the men’s 800m at the Brussels Diamond League in September to win the overall trophy for the prestigious competition.
It has been a bountiful harvest for the youngster who also became the second fastest athlete in the history of the race when he clocked 1:41.11 at the Lausanne Diamond League in late-August.
With such an eventful highlight reel for 2024, Wanyonyi is undoubtedly one of the athletes to watch in the coming year especially with the ‘small matter’ of smashing David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91.
However, the world 800m silver medalist is not putting the cart before the horse; it is a case of one-step-at-a-time for him.
“The series is part of my build-up for next season. I am praying to God that everything works out well and that I can have a better season than the previous one,” he said.
With the World Championships set for Tokyo next year, all eyes will be on the youngster to see what more goodies he can produce on the track.
