Wanyonyi runs road Mile world record
Previous world record holder Hobbs Kessler finishes second
From World Athletics
HERZOGENAURACH - World 800m silver medalist Emmanuel Wanyonyi stepped up to the Mile in style, breaking the road Mile world record with 3:54.56 clocking at the Road to Records adidas event on Saturday in Germany.
Deciding to make his Mile debut rather than race his specialist distance, the Kenyan 19-year-old improved the world record of 3:56.13 set by American Hobbs Kessler at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 last October, despite celebrating on his way to the tape.
Kessler was second on this occasion, chasing Wanyonyi over the finish line in 3:56.18, while South Africa’s Ryan Mphahlele was third in 3:56.45.
The pacemaker went off fast and Wanyonyi was at the front of a group that caught and then passed him, with 90 seconds on the clock. Kessler moved through the field and drew level with Wanyonyi through 1200m, but Wanyonyi responded to the challenge and when Kessler tried to pass him again, he glanced at his rival and kicked.
Surging away, Wanyonyi started his celebrations early and pointed at the finish line, before crossing it in world record time.
“I feel so happy for today. It’s not easy, but I tried to push myself,” said Wanyonyi, the 2021 World U20 800m champion who claimed the Diamond League title last year and received the men’s World Athletics Rising Star award for 2023. “My coach told me it was possible to break the world record.”
Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir topped the women’s Mile in 4:30.93, and American Addy Wiley, runner-up, in 4:31.90.
