A 12 months of close to misses: How the boys’s 800m gave us some thrilling races with a high-quality finish in Brussels
The lads’s 800m quietly produced probably the most thrilling seasons in current reminiscence, as 5 athletes ran underneath 1:42, practically edging nearer to David Rudisha’s world file 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 almost rewrote historical past. For observe and discipline fans, the near-misses and quick finishes within the 800m this 12 months have been simply as charming because the extra extensively lined occasions, setting the stage for a probably historic 2025.
Canadian sensation Marco Arop emerged as one of many central figures within the hunt for Rudisha’s elusive world file. Operating a blistering 1:41 in his final three races main as much as the ultimate Diamond League in Brussels, Arop regarded poised to make a critical run on the file. His aggressive model of racing, mixed along with his tactical acumen, noticed him tackle the world’s greatest confidently. In Brussels, Arop clocked 49.28 on the 400m mark, mirroring Rudisha’s break up throughout his world file run on the 2012 Olympics. Nonetheless, Arop’s blistering early tempo took its toll on the second lap, and he pale 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 techniques to say his second consecutive Diamond League title in 1:42.70. Recognized for his unimaginable ending kick, Wanyonyi patiently held again through the early phases 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 file, which has stood for over a decade, stays inside attain. The 2024 season noticed an ideal storm of competitors that led to a few of the quickest instances ever recorded within the occasion. With a number of athletes persistently breaking 1:42, the boys’s 800m has by no means seen such depth on the high degree. Arop and Wanyonyi, together with the likes of Sedjati and others, have redefined what is feasible on this occasion, giving hope that Rudisha’s file might fall quickly — if not this 12 months, then maybe in 2025.
Apparently, regardless of these breathtaking performances, the 800m occasion obtained much less media consideration than the 100m or 1500m. The continuing rivalry between sprinting stars similar to Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, Julien Alfred, and Sha’Carri Richardson, alongside the unimaginable 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 strain, which might in the end assist considered one of them break the file subsequent 12 months.
What additionally units the 800m aside this 12 months is the number of techniques 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 kinds has led to unpredictable and thrilling finishes, with races usually determined in the previous few strides. With a lot expertise on the high, it’s turn into clear that merely being quick isn’t sufficient to win at this degree — 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 potential. The truth that 5 males have damaged 1:42 in a single 12 months is nothing in need of 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 opportunity 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 12 months, there may be each purpose to consider that the world file might lastly fall. With so lots of the high rivals operating inside tenths of a second of one another, the strain to carry out at each race is immense — but it surely’s additionally what drives athletes to new heights.
In an Olympic cycle, these athletes know that each race counts and the strain will solely improve. Whether or not it’s Arop, Wanyonyi, or a darkish horse like Sedjati, the world of observe and discipline may very well be on the cusp of witnessing historical past within the males’s 800m. If 2024 was a 12 months of close to misses, then 2025 might very nicely give is one thing particular as they chase for Rudisha’s legendary world file.
