Wanyonyi sets sights on Monaco meet after victory in Stockholm

Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi wins men's 800m during the Diamond League Athletics meeting in Stockholm. [File, AFP]

Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is setting sights on the Monaco Diamond League after claiming back-to-back meeting titles in a span of three days.

The world 800m silver medallist stormed to a world lead and his first sub-1:42 this season at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden on Sunday night.

It was a rematch between Wanyonyi and Algerian Djamel Sedjati after another duel pitting the two stars in Oslo on Thursday night.

The Algerian was third in the Oslo meet. Wanyonyi had stated in Oslo on Thursday night that he would be heading to Monaco after Stockholm.

The two meets (Stockholm and Monaco), Wanyonyi said, would help him test his speed and endurance ahead of the Tokyo World Championships in September.

Wanyonyi, 20, replayed his front-running script in Oslo to win in 1:41.95 in Stockholm, with Sedjati finishing second in 1:42.27 and Josh Hoey of the United States settling for the third-place in a personal best of 1:42.43.

The 1:41.73 meeting record set by Wilson Kipketer in 1997 was a major threat on Sunday night but Wanyonyi missed by a fraction of a second.

"My body was not responding in a great way, but I tried to push. I have realised that I have a lot of mileage but I need to improve on my speed work and finishing power," Wanyonyi said after the win. "I was very happy to run under 1:42 just a few days after winning in Oslo. My main target now is to get ready for (Tokyo Worlds), and make the final in the 2025 World Championships, and then we will see what happens."

Two-time Commonwealth Champion Wyclife Kinyamal who was third at the Doha meet on May 16 finished seventh in Stockholm.

In the women's 800m, race favourite Mary Moraa was shocked by Georgia Hunter Bell of Great Britain who came from behind to outkick the world champion in the closing stages of the homestretch.

The British star won the women's 800m contest in 1:57.66, overhauling Moraa, who settled for a season's best 1:57.83 in second place.

Moraa, the Olympic bronze medallist was hoping for a big dance in Stockholm as she was celebrating her 24th birthday.

"It was the best season for your birthday girl at Stockholm Diamond League. I take in the lessons and focus on the next assignment. The dance is coming soon," Moraa posted after the second position.