Wanyonyi storms to Diamond League Final 800m title, Duplantis faces fitness scare

BRUSSELS, Sept 4 : Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered another emphatic statement ahead of next week's World Athletics Ultimate Championships, storming to victory in the men's 800 metres at the Diamond League Final on Friday.

The Olympic and world champion glanced up at the King Baudouin Stadium's big screen with 250 metres to go to gauge his lead, but he need not have worried as he pulled away to cross in a blistering one minute 41.80 seconds despite windy conditions.

"Today was all about winning and I knew that I would have to run 1.41 to win and I did," Wanyonyi said. "I win now the Diamond League (final) for the fourth time in a row and that's just fantastic."

Algeria's Djamel Sedjati was second in 1:42.71, while Yanis Meziane of France passed Canada's 2023 world champion Marco Arop in the final metres to finish third.

The 22-year-old Wanyonyi continued the rich vein of form which has fuelled speculation that he could soon threaten David Rudisha's world record of 1:40.91, controlling the race before unleashing his trademark finishing speed to leave a world-class field trailing in his wake.

Emmanouil Karalis of Greece soared 6.12 metres to win a pole vault competition missing world record-holder Mondo Duplantis.

Sweden's Duplantis withdrew after feeling tightness in his leg, raising questions over his fitness a week before the inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest which will feature the sport's biggest stars competing for a record $10-million prize fund, with individual champions pocketing $150,000 apiece.

"We will see if I can make it to the Ultimate Championships. I don't have the answer right now," he said.

Australia's Cameron Myers timed his finish to perfection to snatch victory in the men's 1,500 metres in