Wanyonyi, who studies at Kosirai Secondary School, managed to win silver in Budapest, an upgrade from last year’s World Championships in Oregon where he finished fourth.
Rudisha, the double Olympic Champion is in Budapest as one of the World Athletics ambassadors, and he witnessed Canadian Macro Arop take the world title from Kenya.
“I sport to Rudisha (David) before the final and he encouraged me, he told me to do my best to defend the title for Kenya, but unfortunately I didn’t win. But if Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich were not injured this title would have remained home,” Wanyonyi said.
The 19-year-old further added that come the Olympics next year, Kenya will dominate the race.
“We need to win it so that we can make Rudisha proud, he is a king.”
Commenting on how he juggles between school and training, the KCSE candidate said, “It is challenging to do both because now you see I am here yet the others are in school, I am sitting for my exams this year and I am glad it’s my final year.”
Wanyonyi, who has a personal best of 1:43.27, believes he lost the 800m gold in the latter stages to Arop solely because of tactics.
“In Oregon I lost because of inexperience. In Budapest I controlled the race; running in front of my opponents. It was not easy for me to attack from the front though as it is my tradition. But then I felt I was comfortable with my pace though tactics let me down again and my opponent capitalized on my mistake,” reiterated Wanyonyi.
“The race was good. I ran really well. I thank God for the silver medal. I see myself competing for gold in the future because winning a bronze at this level is not an easy task. But I was hoping for a three-man Kenya representation in the finals. But God planned otherwise.”
“Korir got injured and so was Ferguson. Kenyans shouldn’t despair about this 800m race.”
“I believe Korir is a better runner than me, he is talented, Ferguson, on the other hand, is also experienced and talented. Both are very experienced championship runners.”
“So, I felt it would be unfair to let them down and come out empty handed.”
Kenya has reigned supreme in 800m for donkey’s years, but this year it was a different story.
But Wanyonyi believes Kenyans will regain their rightful place in 800m next year at the Paris Olympics in a race previously dominated by compatriot David Rudisha.
“When I am okay, we will be able to win the title again; no doubt about it. I will make sure I train well for the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Wanyonyi has a handful of takeaways from his back-to-back world championships experience in Oregon last year and in Budapest in 2023.
“I have come to learn that Championship events are very unpredictable. You might run exceptionally well in semis and fail badly in the finals.”
“To get a medal at the world championships you need to prepare well and that’s exactly what sim going to work on.”
He believes he has the potential to rise through the ranks and emulate Rudisha’s track antics that made him the G.O.A.T.
Other Kenyans who have excelled at this tough specialty are Patrick Konchellah, Paul Ereng, Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir, William Yiampoy and Wilfred Bungei among others.
