Emmanuel Wanyonyi on the strategy he used to take down star-studded 1500m field

PHOTO || Grand Slam Track

Emmanuel Wanyonyi on the strategy he used to take down star-studded 1500m field

Mark Kinyanjui 16:10 - 06.04.2025

Emmanuel Wanyonyi has opened up on the strategy he used to win the 1500m race on Saturday in the inagural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica.

Reigning Olympic 800 meter champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi has given an insight on the strategy he used to overcome a star-studded 1500m field during the first ever

Grand Slam Track meet held in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday.

In a race loaded with elite names, Wanyonyi clocked 3.35.18 to claim an emphatic win ahead of American dup Yared Nuguse (3.35.36) and Cole Hocker (3.35.52), while British stars Neil Gourley (3.35.60) and World champion Josh Kerr (3.35.61) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

His 800m rival Marco Arop had to settle for sixth place. 

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Speaking to the media after the clash, Wanyonyi, who has shown he is capable of handling long distance races, explained why he found it so easy to win the race.

“First of all, I told myself that I'm here to win. I'm here to run. I came all the way from Kenya for this, and I'm really happy to have won today,” Emmanuel Wanyonyi said.

“The pace was good, but it was actually quite slow. Still, I’m happy I won the race. The time doesn’t matter to me—I came here to win.”

Wanyonyi, who even briefly held  the world road mile record (3:54.6) in Germany in 2024  and clinched gold in the mixed relay at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, has reflected with pride at achieving a personal best in the event.

“Well, this is my personal best so far. I haven’t even checked the time yet, but I think I surprised myself today. This race showed me what I can do. In the future, I’d like to be able to bring this event home.”

Asked how different the 800m event is from the 1500 meters, Wanyonyi opened up on the differences in intensity between both events.

“For me, the 1500 meters has better tactics. The 800 meters is very competitive from the start—it's fast and intense right away. But in the 1500, I can be more strategic.

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“Today, I’m so happy. It’s not easy to race against Olympic champions, but I came here to beat them. And I did. That makes me feel really proud.”

Wanyonyi will now be taking on the same field in his specialist 800m field later tonight.

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