A yr of close to misses: How the lads’s 800m gave us some thrilling races with a effective finish in Brussels
The lads’s 800m quietly produced probably the most thrilling seasons in current reminiscence, as 5 athletes ran underneath 1:42, almost edging nearer to David Rudisha’s world report of 1:40.91. Whereas sprinting legends battled it out within the 100 meters and middle-distance stars dazzled within the 1500 meters, the 800m occasion surged underneath the radar, producing jaw-dropping performances that just about rewrote historical past. For monitor and area fanatics, the near-misses and quick finishes within the 800m this yr had been simply as charming because the extra extensively coated occasions, setting the stage for a doubtlessly historic 2025.
Canadian sensation Marco Arop emerged as one of many central figures within the hunt for Rudisha’s elusive world report. Operating a blistering 1:41 in his final three races main as much as the ultimate Diamond League in Brussels, Arop appeared poised to make a critical run on the report. His aggressive type of racing, mixed together with his tactical acumen, noticed him tackle the world’s finest confidently. In Brussels, Arop clocked 49.28 on the 400m mark, mirroring Rudisha’s break up throughout his world report run on the 2012 Olympics. Nonetheless, Arop’s blistering early tempo took its toll on the second lap, and he light to 3rd place by the end, his last 200 slowing considerably as he crossed the road.
But, it wasn’t Arop who stole the present. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a masterclass in ways to assert his second consecutive Diamond League title in 1:42.70. Recognized for his unbelievable ending kick, Wanyonyi patiently held again in the course of the early levels of the race, biding his time earlier than unleashing a devastating 13.2-s last 100 meters to grab victory from Djamel Sedjati.
Whereas Wanyonyi claimed one other main win, it’s clear that Rudisha’s world report, which has stood for over a decade, stays inside attain. The 2024 season noticed an ideal storm of competitors that led to a number of the quickest instances ever recorded within the occasion. With a number of athletes constantly breaking 1:42, the lads’s 800m has by no means seen such depth on the prime stage. Arop and Wanyonyi, together with the likes of Sedjati and others, have redefined what is feasible on this occasion, giving hope that Rudisha’s report might fall quickly — if not this yr, then maybe in 2025.
Apparently, regardless of these breathtaking performances, the 800m occasion obtained much less media consideration than the 100m or 1500m. The continued rivalry between sprinting stars akin to Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, Julien Alfred, and Sha’Carri Richardson, alongside the unbelievable dominance of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr, and Cole Hocker within the center distances, dominated headlines. Nonetheless, this overshadowing of the 800m may need labored to the athletes’ benefit, permitting them to coach and compete with much less exterior stress, which might in the end assist certainly one of them break the report subsequent yr.
What additionally units the 800m aside this yr is the number of ways employed by the highest runners. Whereas Arop tends to take races out aggressively, Wanyonyi usually waits till the ultimate 200m to make his transfer. This conflict of racing types has led to unpredictable and thrilling finishes, with races usually determined in the previous few strides. With a lot expertise on the prime, it’s turn into clear that merely being quick isn’t sufficient to win at this stage — athletes must outthink and outpace their rivals when it issues most.
The 800m has lengthy been one of many sport’s most grueling occasions, combining the velocity of a sprinter with the endurance of a middle-distance runner. As this season has proven, athletes are pushing the boundaries of what’s attainable. The truth that 5 males have damaged 1:42 in a single yr is nothing wanting extraordinary, and it speaks to the standard of competitors presently at play within the occasion. As these athletes proceed to refine their coaching and racing methods, the potential of somebody operating underneath 1:41 grows ever nearer.
Trying forward, the 2025 season may very well be much more thrilling. If these athletes can keep wholesome and keep away from burnout after such an extended and grueling yr, there may be each cause to imagine that the world report might lastly fall. With so lots of the prime opponents operating inside tenths of a second of one another, the stress to carry out at each race is immense — however it’s additionally what drives athletes to new heights.
In an Olympic cycle, these athletes know that each race counts and the stress will solely enhance. Whether or not it’s Arop, Wanyonyi, or a darkish horse like Sedjati, the world of monitor and area may very well be on the cusp of witnessing historical past within the males’s 800m. If 2024 was a yr of close to misses, then 2025 could very nicely give is one thing particular as they chase for Rudisha’s legendary world report.
