Grand Slam Track: How Much Emmanuel Wanyonyi Earned After Kingston Heroics
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi picked up from where he left off last year, putting in an impressive performance in his first competition abroad
- The 800m Olympic champion competed in the first Grand Slam Track event of the year in Kingston, Jamaica, as one of the challengers
- He joined the likes of Gabby Thoma and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in becoming the first champion and winning huge sums of money
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Emmanuel Wanyonyi sent out a strong statement of intent to his rivals with a dominant showing in his first global competition of the season.
Wanyonyi was part of the marquee star attractions at the inaugural Grand Slam Track, which began in Kingston.
Source: Getty Images
The 800m Olympic champion joined other stars from Paris like Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as Michael Johnson's brainchild came to life in the Jamaican capital.
Wanyonyi, as TUKO.co.ke exclusively reported in February, was signed as one of the challengers in the men's short distance group.
How Emmanuel Wanyonyi performed in Kingston's Grand Slam Track
He was paired with his arch-nemesis Marco Arop, with whom he already has a storied rivalry. The Canadian beat Wanyonyi to the world title in Budapest 2023 before the Kenyan responded by winning the Olympic gold in Paris last year.
The men's short distance group, like all the other categories, has four core races who will compete in every slam event. The core racers are Arop, American duo Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker and Great Britain's Josh Kerr.
The eight competed in the 800m and 1500m. Wanyonyi surprisingly beat 1500m favourites in their own discipline on Friday night. The 20-year-old overpowered his competitors on the final stretch to lower his personal best to 3:35.18.
The result was impressive given that he had only competed in the 1500m once before, and he beat seasoned and accomplished 1500m runners. Hocker is the reigning Olympic champion, Kerr is the world champion and silver medalist in Paris, while Nuguse won bronze at the same event.
"I showed I can compete with some of the best competitors," said Wanyonyi.
Marco Arop beats Wanyonyi in 800m
After taking down the 1500m runners at their own event, Wanyonyi was expected to make easy work when he returned to his favourite discipline on Sunday night. He, however, seemingly felt the effects of that 1500m run, settling for second place behind Arop.
Despite failing to win, Wanyonyi was declared the overall winner of the men's short distance in Kingston after garnering 20 points, five more than Arop in second place.
"I think Grand Slam is the real deal and I know when you put the best of the best together, you get some great performances. This early in the season, you’re already seeing incredible performances. I’m really excited about the next Slam," said Arop.
How much Emmanuel Wanyonyi got from Grand Slam Track
For his heroics, the 2-running-club athlete is set to smile all the way to the bank. Grand Slam Track made a lot of headlines for its lucrative prize money as Johnson attempts to change the game.
All slam champions won $100,000, which means Wanyonyi is now approximately 13 million Kenya Shillings richer.
Source: Getty Images
Who else won at Grand Slam Track in Kingston?
Women - Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (Short Sprints), Gabby Thomas (Long Sprints), Danielle Williams (Short Hurdles), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Long Hurdles), Diribe Welteji (Short Distance), Ejgayehu Taye (Long Distance).
Men- Kenny Bednarek (Short Sprints), Matthew-Hudson Smith (Long Sprints), Sasha Zhoya (Short Hurdles), Alison dos Santos (Long Hurdles), Grant Fisher (Long Distance).
Each winner, like Wanyonyi, walked away with $100,000.
When is the next Grand Slam Track?
As a challenger, Wanyonyi is expected to compete in at least two slams per year. It is still unknown which one he will pick.
After Kingston, the action heads to Miami at the Ansin Sports Complex on May 2, before Philadelphia comes in at the end of May. Los Angeles will be the last stop in June.
Mary Moraa finishes 8th in Kingston
TUKO.co.ke also reported on Mary Moraa's bad start at the Grand Slam Track.
The 800m World Champion finished last in her favourite race before withdrawing from the next race.
The 'Nyamira Express' had been signed as one of the core racers. Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji won in her category.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
