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 ongoing rivalry between sprinting stars such as Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, Julien Alfred, and Sha’Carri Richardson, alongside the incredible dominance of Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr, and Cole Hocker in the middle distances, dominated headlines. However, this overshadowing of the 800m might have worked to the athletes’ advantage, allowing them to train and compete with less external pressure, which could ultimately help one of them break the record next year.
What also sets the 800m apart this year is the variety of tactics employed by the top runners. While Arop tends to take races out aggressively, Wanyonyi often waits until the final 200m to make his move. This clash of racing styles has led to unpredictable and thrilling finishes, with races often decided in the last few strides. With so much talent at the top, it’s become clear that simply being fast isn’t enough to win at this level — athletes need to outthink and outpace their rivals when it matters most.
The 800m has long been one of the sport’s most grueling events, combining the speed of a sprinter with the endurance of a middle-distance runner. As this season has shown, athletes are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The fact that five men have broken 1:42 in a single year is nothing short of extraordinary, and it speaks to the quality of competition currently at play in the event. As these athletes continue to refine their training and racing strategies, the possibility of someone running under 1:41 grows ever closer.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season could be even more exciting. If these athletes can stay healthy and avoid burnout after such a long and grueling year, there is every reason to believe that the world record could finally fall. With so many of the top competitors running within tenths of a second of each other, the pressure to perform at every race is immense — but it’s also what drives athletes to new heights.
In an Olympic cycle, these athletes know that every race counts and the pressure will only increase. Whether it’s Arop, Wanyonyi, or a dark horse like Sedjati, the world of track and field could be on the cusp of witnessing history in the men’s 800m. If 2024 was a year of near misses, then 2025 may very well give is something special as they chase for Rudisha’s legendary world record.
