Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and double
Olympic gold medallist Beatrice Chebet are set to light up the track
once again when they headline the Rabat Diamond League on May 25, as
they aim to extend their red-hot form in the 2025 season.
The
Kenyan stars have been in scintillating form both on the track and
road, laying down a strong marker in the early part of the season with
the Tokyo World Championships in focus.
Wanyonyi,
20, kicked off his preparations for the 2025 season by featuring in the
Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country circuit last year.
He
cruised to victory in the 2km loop race at the third leg in Iten on
November 2, 2024, clocking 5:50.6 to outkick Kamar Etiang (5:51.0) and
Phanuel Koech (5:54.3).
He
maintained his winning momentum at the National Cross Country
Championships earlier this year on February 8 at the Eldoret Sports
Club, storming to a 6:14m
Reynold Cheruiyot (6:16) and Timothy Cheruiyot (6:20) followed closely behind.
Transitioning
to the track, Wanyonyi sharpened his endurance with a commanding 1,500m
victory at the third AK Weekend Meeting on the marram surface of
Kapsabet’s Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex, clocking 3:38.1.
Josephat Sang (3:44.1) and Justice Byegon (3:46.4) followed in his wake.
“I took on the 1,500m to gauge my endurance and see how my body responds ahead of a busy season,” Wanyonyi said.
His
first international appearance came at the inaugural Grand Slam Track
Meet in Kingston, Jamaica, in April, where he doubled in the 800m and
1,500m.
He stunned a
world-class 1,500m field — including Olympic medallists — to win in
3:35.18, ahead of Olympic silver medallist Yared Nuguse (3:35.36) and
gold medallist Cole Hocker (3:35.52).
In
his 800m speciality, Wanyonyi settled for second behind Canadian
Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop, who clocked 1:45.13 to Wanyonyi’s
1:46.44.
Despite the narrow defeat, Wanyonyi was crowned overall meet champion and pocketed a whopping Sh12.9 million in prize money.
Following
a masterclass in Kingston, Wanyonyi revealed plans to feature in the
1,500m in future but reiterated his sole focus on clinching the World
800m title this year in Tokyo.
“Kingston
showed me I have potential in the 1,500m, but my focus this year is the
800m at the World Championships in Tokyo,” Wanyonyi declared.
During
the last edition of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary,
Wanyonyi was forced to settle for silver after clocking 1:44.53 behind
Arop (1:44.24).
He then flew
to Germany, where he showcased his versatility by winning the Mile race
at the Adidas Adizero Road to Records event in 3:52.45.
Further,
Wanyonyi will be hoping for a flying start in the Diamond League
circuit as he aims to defend his 800m trophy won in Brussels last year
when he clocked 1:42.70 to lead Algeria's Djamel Sedjati (1:42.86) and
Arop (1:43.25).
Meanwhile,
Chebet, who claimed the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m titles in Paris,
began her 2025 season in style by dominating the Elgoibar Cross Country
7km race in Spain, clocking 25:49. Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu (26:31) and Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi (26:33) followed her home.
She
opened her track season in Xiamen, China, at the first Diamond League
stop, where she produced a thrilling sprint finish to win the 5,000m in
14:27.12.
She edged out world record holder Gudaf Tsegay (14:28.18) and fellow Ethiopian Birke Haylom (14:28.80).
Just
like Wanyonyi, Chebet will also be looking to build momentum to defend
her 5,000m trophy won in Brussels when she clocked 14:09.82 to beat
Ethiopians Medina Eisa (14:21.89) and Fotyen Tesfey (14:28.53).
