Emmanuel Wanyonyi Explains His Next Ambitious Plan After Obliterating World Road Mile Record.
29th April 2024
Even after breaking the world record, the 19-year-old Kenyan athlete is more determined to add more caps and medals under his name.
- Wanyonyi broke the world road mile record with 3:54.56* at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on Saturday, April 27.
- Early this month, Wanyonyi set a world-leading time to retain his last year’s title in 1:43.57, at the 5th Kip Keino Classic continental.
World 800m silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi is not settling any time soon even after he broke the world road mile record with 3:54.56 at the adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on Saturday, April 27.
Even after breaking the world record, the 19-year-old Kenyan athlete is more determined to add more caps and medals under his name.
Speaking to Nation Africa after obliterating the World Road mile record, Wanyonyi insisted that he is now to fight for his space in the Team Kenya that will be competing in the Olympics.
Being his first Olympic Games outing, Wanyonyi insisted that he aims to make a mark and bring home silverware on his debut.
"We have less than three months before the Olympic Games in Paris and I'm going back home to continue with my preparations because I know it will be tight and every athlete is eyeing the race," Wanyonyi told Nation.
"As you are aware, the Kenyan trials are just like a championship and are very tight, so I have to qualify and be selected to join the national team and then prepare for the real game because it will be my first Olympic Games event and I want to impress," he insisted.
Wanyonyi made those sentiments after he improved the previous world record of 3:56.13 set by USA’s Hobbs Kessler at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga.
Kessler was second on this occasion, chasing Wanyonyi over the finish line in 3:56.18, while South Africa’s Ryan Mphahlele was third in 3:56.45.
Wanyonyi won the race in style as he started celebrating even before crossing the finishing line lighting up the spectators in Herzogenaurach.
“I feel so happy for today. It’s not easy, but I tried to push myself," Wanyonyi stated.
“My coach told me it was possible to break the world record," the 2021 world U20 800m champion who claimed the Diamond League title last year stated.
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Early this month, Wanyonyi set a world-leading time to retain his last year’s title in 1:43.57, at the 5th Kip Keino Classic continental. Wanyonyi sent fans wild at Nyayo Stadium in the 2-lap race to shed off stiff competition from fellow countrymen Aaron Kemei and Ferguson Cheruiyot, who finished in the 2nd and 3rd positions with 1:44.10 and 1:44.90, respectively.
“I didn’t expect to run a world lead. I wanted to test my body, and I felt good. I want to maintain this form and maybe improve ahead of the Olympic trials. I want to thank fans for turning up in large numbers to cheer us on. We don’t take it for granted.” Said Wanyonyi
Now, all eyes are on the fast-rising athlete ahead of the Paris Olympic Games.