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The men's 800m has seen fast times being posted by top athletes and Pulse Sports takes a look at the top five fastest men over the 800m in 2024 with Emmanuel Wanyonyi being a headliner.
The men’s 800m has been very competitive this season and has seen a crop of young runners threaten David Rudisha’s world record and in this article, Pulse Sports will analyse the fastest men over 800m in 2024.
Rudisha, a two-time Olympic champion, set the world record at the 2012 London Olympic Games, clocking 1:40.91 to cross the finish line but as things are looking, the record will not stand for long following this new emergence of 800m runners.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Marco Arop and Djamel Sedjati are the notable athletes who have made an impact in the 800m and their effort has gone unnoticed following their exploits at the Paris Olympic Games and the Diamond League Meeting final.
1) Emmanuel Wanyonyi
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Just at 20 years old, Wanyonyi has already defined the men’s 800m this season and it all started at the Kenyan Olympic trials where he clocked a stunning 1:41.70 to win the final after a devastating setback in the semifinal.
Wanyonyi proceeded to the Diamond League Meeting in Paris, bettering his time after clocking 1:41.58 for a second-place finish. The reigning Olympic champion was no fluke at the Paris Olympic Games, as he claimed his maiden title and went on to threaten Rudisha’s world record after the Olympics.
Racing at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, the world 800m silver medallist clocked 1:41.11 to win the race, this being the fastest time he clocked this season. The Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels was Wanyonyi’s final track race of the season and he successfully claimed his second successive trophy.
2) Marco Arop
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Reigning world 800m champion Marco Arop is definitely Wanyonyi’s track rival when it comes to the 800m and he could not miss on the list of top 800m runners this season. The Olympic 800m silver medallist was hoping to attack the world record but unfortunately fell short in his multiple attempts.
The Canadian running ace clocked the second-fastest time this season at the Paris Olympic Games where he finished second, timing 1:41.20 to cross the finish line. Arop has also been stunning after the Olympics, finishing second in Lausanne before winning the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne.
Arop then ended his season with a third-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting final and as he takes a break, he will be back to continue chasing the world record.
3) Djamel Sedjati
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After Wanyonyi’s blistering run at the Kenyan Olympic trials, it was Sedjati who continued the momentum of clocking fast times at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris, just a month before the Paris Olympic Games.
The 25-year-old clocked 1:41.56 to cross the finish line in Paris before clocking a stunning 1:41.46 to win the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco, the third fastest time in the 800m this season. He ended the season with a second-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
4) Gabriel Tual
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Gabriel Tual has had the best season of his life in 2024 and he will be back to finish where he started from next season. The Frenchman has been impressive, clocking faster times and he could not miss on the list of top 800m runners.
Tual finished third at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris, clocking 1:41.61 to cross the finish line, with his time being the fourth-fastest in 2024. He has missed the podium in most of his races this season and will be out to go one place better in 2025.
The 26-year-old finished fifth at the Paris Olympic Games and fourth at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels, in both instances, missing out on the podium narrowly.
5) Bryce Hoppel
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The American distance sensation has also enjoyed a great 2024, building up on his World Indoor Championships exploits where he claimed the gold medal in the men’s 800m.
The world indoor champion finished fourth at the Paris Olympic Games, clocking the fifth-fastest time of 1:41.67 to cross the finish line. After the Olympic Games, he raced at the Diamond League Meetings in Lausanne and Silesia where he finished fourth and third respectively.
Hoppel closed his season with a disappointing 18th-place finish at the New Balance 5th Avenue Mile and he will be out to make an impact next year at the 2025 World Championships and other top events.
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