Emmanuel Wanyonyi Will Progress to the Tokyo World Championships 800m Final

Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who was among the 58 athletes representing Kenya, has secured a top-two finish in the third semifinal of the men’s 800 meters at the Tokyo World Championships, booking his spot in the highly anticipated final. After Thursday’s intense heats, the stage is set for a blockbuster showdown featuring reigning champions, national record holders, and emerging talents.

Arop and Sedjati Signal Intent

In the first semifinal, Canada’s Marco Arop, who is also the defending world champion, showcased his trademark control and tactical awareness to qualify with ease. Matching him stride for stride was Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, both crossing the line in 1:45.09. Their dominance left Ireland’s Mark English in third at 1:45.47, which was not enough to advance.

Arop, who clinched gold in Budapest in 2023, enters the final as the favorite. However, Sedjati has proven time and again that he can disrupt the script with his speed and race intelligence.

McPhillips Stuns With Record-Breaking Run

The second heat delivered fireworks as Ireland’s Cian McPhillips stormed to a surprise victory in a new national record of 1:43.18. He narrowly edged out Britain’s Max Burgin, who clocked 1:43.37 in an equally impressive performance to qualify automatically.

Former world champion Donavan Brazier of the United States also reminded fans of his class. Although he finished third in 1:43.82, the time was quick enough to see him progress as one of the fastest losers. With three men running under 1:44 in this semifinal alone, the depth and competitiveness of the event were on full display.

Wanyonyi and Attaoui Seal Final Spots

The last semifinal kept the drama alive. Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui took top honors in 1:43.18, while Kenya’s teenage star Wanyonyi followed closely in 1:43.47. Jamaica’s Navasky Anderson added his name to the history books, breaking his nation’s record with a 1:43.72 to grab the final automatic qualifying spot.

The Finalists

With the dust settled, the eight-man final lineup includes:

• Marco Arop (Canada)
• Djamel Sedjati (Algeria)
• Cian McPhillips (Ireland)
• Max Burgin (Great Britain)
• Mohamed Attaoui (Spain)
• Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya)
• Navasky Anderson (Jamaica)
• Donavan Brazier (USA)

With seasoned champions clashing against fearless newcomers, the men’s 800m final in Tokyo is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated races of the championship.