A year of near misses: How the men’s 800m gave us some thrilling races with a fine end in Brussels

A year of near misses: How the men’s 800m gave us some thrilling races with a fine end in Brussels

The men’s 800m quietly produced one of the most thrilling seasons in recent memory, as five athletes ran under 1:42, nearly edging closer to David Rudisha’s world record of 1:40.91. While sprinting legends battled it out in the 100 meters and middle-distance stars dazzled in the 1500 meters, the 800m event surged under the radar, producing jaw-dropping performances that nearly rewrote history. For track and field enthusiasts, the near-misses and fast finishes in the 800m this year were just as captivating as the more widely covered events, setting the stage for a potentially historic 2025.

Canadian sensation Marco Arop emerged as one of the central figures in the hunt for Rudisha’s elusive world record. Running a blistering 1:41 in his last three races leading up to the final Diamond League in Brussels, Arop looked poised to make a serious run at the record. His aggressive style of racing, combined with his tactical acumen, saw him take on the world’s best confidently. In Brussels, Arop clocked 49.28 at the 400m mark, mirroring Rudisha’s split during his world record run at the 2012 Olympics. However, Arop’s blistering early pace took its toll on the second lap, and he faded to third place by the finish, his final 200 slowing significantly as he crossed the line.

Yet, it wasn’t Arop who stole the show. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered a masterclass in tactics to claim his second consecutive Diamond League title in 1:42.70. Known for his incredible finishing kick, Wanyonyi patiently held back during the early stages of the race, biding his time before unleashing a devastating 13.2-s final 100 meters to snatch victory from Djamel Sedjati.

While Wanyonyi claimed another major win, it’s clear that Rudisha’s world record, which has stood for over a decade, remains within reach. The 2024 season saw a perfect storm of competition that led to some of the fastest times ever recorded in the event. With multiple athletes consistently breaking 1:42, the men’s 800m has never seen such depth at the top level. Arop and Wanyonyi, along with the likes of Sedjati and others, have redefined what is possible in this event, giving hope that Rudisha’s record could fall soon — if not this year, then perhaps in 2025.

Interestingly, despite these breathtaking performances, the 800m event received less media attention than the 100m or 1500m. The…