World Athletics Championships: Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi cruises into 800m final

US' athlete Bryce Hoppel (L), Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Spain's Mohamed Attaoui compete in the men's 800m semi-final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 18, 2025. (Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi underlined his growing reputation on the global stage after powering into the men's 800 metres final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 19-year-old held his nerve in a tense semifinal, clocking 1:43.47 to secure second place behind Spain's Mohamed Attaoui, who won the heat in 1:43.18. Jamaica's Navasky Anderson also impressed, breaking his national record with 1:43.72 to claim the final automatic spot.

The result means Wanyonyi will line up in Sunday's final against some of the world's best middle-distance runners, continuing Kenya's proud tradition in the two-lap race.