Emmanuel Wanyonyi headlines Kenyan line-up for Lausanne DL

Kenya’s Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will headline a strong Kenyan contingent at Wednesday’s Athletissima Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Wanyonyi has been the standout middle-distance runner of 2024, racing consistently since February with commanding victories in Oslo, Stockholm, Monaco, and London.

His 1:41.44 from Monaco remains the world lead this season. Lausanne is a familiar stage for the 20-year-old, as it was here in 2024 that he clocked a lifetime best of 1:41.11 — the third-fastest time in history.

The men’s 800m in Lausanne promises to be another blockbuster, with Wanyonyi taking on world champion Marco Arop, European champion Gabriel Tual, and world indoor champion Bryce Hoppel.

Kenya will also be well represented in the men’s 5000m, where former World championship silver medalist Jacob Krop faces a stacked field featuring Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, and the USA’s Grant Fisher. With recent Diamond League races producing sub-12:50 times, the race is expected to deliver fireworks.

In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, former world champion Norah Jeruto returns to the Diamond League circuit, taking on Ethiopia’s rising star Sembo Almayew. Adding to Kenya’s hopes is NCAA champion Doris Lemngole, who will be making her Lausanne debut.

Beyond Kenya, Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson headlines the women’s 800m after her stunning 1:54.74 season opener in Silesia. She will be challenged by Prudence Sekgodiso, Audrey Werro, Georgia Hunter Bell, and Oratile Nowe.

Athletissima is the third-last leg of the 2025 Diamond League season, with Brussels scheduled for August 22 before the two-day Zurich Final on August 27–28.

 Points are doubled in Zurich, and event winners will not only claim the prestigious Diamond Trophy and prize money but also secure wildcard entry to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, set for September 13–21.

Alongside Wanyonyi, several Kenyan athletes have already booked their tickets to Zurich by topping the Diamond League standings. Among them are double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, Olympic 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Faith Cherotich, 3,000m SC world U20 champion Edmund Serem, and Wanyonyi.

With form, history, and momentum on their side, Kenyan athletes will be chasing more glory as the Diamond League season heads into its decisive stretch.