
Budapest23: Teenager Emmanuel Wanyonyi bags silver
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 26.08.23. | 19:50
Canada's Marco Arop won the race
Former World Under-20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who has been in good form this year, has capped his season with silver at this year's World Championships in Hungary.
In his usual manner of front running style, Wanyonyi led the group, taking the bell ahead after a 52 seconds first lap.
He maintained his place until the home-straight where Canadian Marco Arop pipped him to clock 1:44.24 for gold. Wanyonyi finished in 1:44.53 ahead of American. Ben Pattison who timed 1:44.53.
The teenager was the country's sole representative in the final after Olympics silver medalist Ferguson Rotich fell off the qualification train in the heats while Alex Kipngetich, failed to make it to the final in the semis.
Kenya had a great evening! Faith Kipyegon won gold, Emmanuel Wanyonyi won silver, and Beatrice Chebet won bronze. God bless our Kenyan athletes! 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/VfNot6jphp
— Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) August 26, 2023
Emmanuel Korir, the defending champion, was one of the casualties in the first round as well, having headed to Budapest in bad form following a season of battles with injuries, especially one that saw him miss out on the national qualifiers.
In Oregon, the young Wanyonyi who had elected to race in the senior level and not defend his Under-20 title, came close to his first medal on the world stage as a senior athlete when he finished fourth in the race won by compatriot Korir.













