Wanyonyi plots Oslo redemption after Rabat upset

After a rare stumble in Rabat, Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be eyeing redemption when he returns to the track for Thursday’s Oslo Diamond League showdown.

Wanyonyi, one of the most electrifying middle-distance talents, suffered a shock defeat on May 25 at the Stade Olympique, where he was the headline act in the Rabat Diamond League. The 20-year-old was forced to settle for third place in 1:43.37 in a fierce battle.

Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela extended his winning streak with a sizzling 1:42.70 for his second Diamond League win of the season, following his earlier triumph in Doha (1:43.11). Great Britain’s Max Burgin edged Wanyonyi for second, clocking 1:43.34.

Despite that setback, Wanyonyi has been in sparkling form throughout 2025, collecting victories on both track and road. 

He kicked off his season in style at the Kenya Cross Country Championships on February 8, dominating the men’s 2km loop race in 6:14, ahead of Reynold Cheruiyot (6:16) and Timothy Cheruiyot (6:20).

In his track opener, Wanyonyi stunned a stacked 1500m field at the Kingston Grand Slam on April 5, outkicking Olympic medalists to win in 3:35.18.  

Americans Yared Nuguse (3:35.36) and Cole Hocker (3:35.52) rounded out the podium. However, in his preferred 800m in Kingston, he placed second in 1:46.44, trailing Canadian Olympic silver medallist Marco Arop (1:45.13). Later that month, Wanyonyi delivered another standout performance, this time on the roads. 

At the Adidas Adizero Road to Records Mile race in Herzogenaurach, Germany, he tore through the field to win in 3:52.45, comfortably ahead of Americans Hobbs Kessler (3:54.34) and Nico Young (3:54.50). 

Wanyonyi is bracing for a blockbuster clash in Oslo against Olympic bronze medallist Djamel Sedjati of Algeria, who will be making his season debut. 

Their last head-to-head was at the Brussels Diamond League final in September 2024, where Wanyonyi edged Sedjati to claim the trophy in 1:42.70 to the Algerian’s 1:42.86. 

The field in Oslo is stacked with quality, including Britain’s Max Burgin, Botswana’s Kethobogile Haingura, Sweden’s Andreas Kramer and Frenchman Gabriel Tual.

Elsewhere, the women’s 3,000m steeplechase promises fireworks as Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich reignites her rivalry with Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain. 

Cherotich has already drawn first blood against the Bahrainis in their previous encounter at the Doha Diamond League.

In that race, Cherotich outsprinted Yavi to claim victory in 9:05.08 to Yavi's 9:05.26. They’ll be joined by 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech, adding more firepower to a sizzling lineup.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 5,000m, 2022 world silver medallist Jacob Krop and 2023 world road running bronze medallist Nicholas Kipkorir will lead the Kenyan assault against a formidable Ethiopian contingent spearheaded by 2016 Olympic bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet.

Krop has endured a mixture of results since kicking off his 2025 campaign. He placed 19th in the 10km race at the Kenya Cross Country Championships before going on to claim third spot at the Lille 10K (27:15) on March 16. His most recent outing was at the Adizero race, where he placed fifth in the 5 K.