There was a showdown in Monaco on Friday as Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Englishman Jake Wightman duked it out over the 1000 metre distance, in a very competitive field. Or, at least it seemed competitive. Wanyonyi won with apparent ease, taking the 27-year-old world record.
Two pacers, Louey Ouerrat of France and Patryk Sieradzki of Poland, dropped at 600m and 800m, respectively. They did an excellent job of running at a 1000m world record pace before retiring. Wightman sat on Wanyonyi’s shoulder and pushed the Kenyan. Wanyonyi was behind the pace lights with 150m to go, but caught up and passed the first light just before crossing the finish line.
He bettered countryman Noah Ngeny’s long-standing world record of 2:11.96 from 1999, clocking in at 2:11.83.
Whightman finished in second place in a new personal best time of 2:12.77. Taking third was Djamel Sedjati of Algeria. He recorded a finish time of 2:13.94, which was also a personal best.
Shortly after the race, Wanyonyi looked as though he had just finished an easy jog in the park.
Wightman is a 1500m specialist. He earned a gold medal during the 2022 Eugene World Athletics Championships. Wanyonyi is the defending Paris Olympic 800m champion, winning gold in 1:41.19. His personal best is 1:41.11.
Julien Alfred sprinted to a world-leading, meet record and national record time of 21.51 seconds in the 200m event. She bettered Adaejah Hodge, who finished second in 21.76. Gabrielle Thomas took third in 21.84.
Marileidy Paulino ran 48.67 for the win in the 400m to set a meet record. Madai Russell clocked a 12.20 meet record in the 100m hurdles.
Collen Busang Kebinatshipi of Botswana set a Diamond League and national record in the men’s 400m with his 43.44-second win.
