Wanyonyi faces Arop once again in Silesia Diamond League meet

Marco Arop and Emmanuel Wanyonyi in action in the 800 final at the Olympics in Paris. [AFP]

To say the men’s 800m event at Silesia Diamond League on Sunday is star-studded is still an understatement.

The fastest men in the distance have been assembled for a contest that poses another major threat to David Rudisha’s world record from the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Many disciplines have been exhilarating to watch this season but the 800m event has stolen the shows in major competitions.

Statistics show that the four of the ten fastest times ever in the two-lap event have been recorded in 2024, and the trend doesn't look like stopping any time soon.

From dramatic photo finishes, to brilliant face-offs and to mouthwatering performances, the 800m, particularly the men’s race, has seen stars write history.

The 800m men’s legs have perfected how to roll up the tracks. The top ranked ones have pushed each other to new heights during the season.

This evening in Silesia, Poland, the men are once again out to challenge Rudisha’s bragging rights in the middle distance race.

On Thursday, at the 11th leg of the series in Lausanne, Olympic champion Wanyonyi produced a jaw-dropping world lead of 1:41.11, moving to within a fifth of a second of Rudisha's world record.

In the process, the world silver medallist became the second fastest man of all time in the 800m, sharing the spot with legendary track star Wilson Kipketer.

Just like in Lausanne, Wanyonyi is on Sunday going up against Canadian Marco Arop, the reigning World Champion.

Arop, an Olympic silver medallist, was second behind Wanyonyi in the hotly contested win.

Wanyonyi will have the company of Commonwealth champion Wyclife Kinyamal in this evening’s contest.

Frenchman Gabriel Tual, the European champion who finished third in Lausanne is in the Silesia showdown mix.