Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi secured an impressive victory in the men’s 800m event at the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic held at Hayward Field.

The 19-year-old athlete delivered a remarkable performance, clocking a personal best and world-leading time of 1:42.80.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi shatters record

This stunning achievement not only showcased his exceptional talent but also shattered the previous meet record of 1:43.63, which had been set in 2014 by Nigel Amos of Botswana.

Reflecting on his remarkable performance, Wanyonyi modestly remarked, “I tried my best.”

The race was characterized by a blistering pace set by Jamaican pacer Navasky Anderson, who completed the first quarter in a swift 49.19 seconds.

Subsequently, world champion Marco Arop of Canada took the lead, displaying strong determination and an apparent aim to break Brandon McBride’s Canadian record of 1:43.20 in the final event of the season.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi beats Arop

However, it was Wanyonyi who exhibited incredible strength and determination, ultimately surpassing all competitors at the finish line to secure the victory and his first Diamond League trophy.

Arop, who had been in contention for the win, finished second with a time of 1:42.85, successfully achieving the national record he had been pursuing.

Djamal Sedjati of Algeria secured third place, recording a personal-best time of 1:43.06, while Yanis Meziane of France claimed fourth place with a personal-best time of 1:43.94.

American Bryce Hoppel finished in sixth place with a time of 1:44.63. This race not only showcased Wanyonyi‘s immense potential but also provided a thrilling and memorable moment in the world of athletics.