Track legend Bungei says Rudisha's record on sight for Wanyonyi

The track legend says the world record is on sight going by the last year’s performances posted by the current stars led by the current Olympics champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, world champion Marco Arop of Canada and France’s Gabriel Tual.

Wanyonyi, 20, inched ever so close to the record during the Lausanne Diamond League in August, winning in 1:41.11 to miss the feat by just 0.1 seconds, few weeks after he had dazzled fans with his sensational victory in the men's 800m final at the Paris Olympic Games.

Bungei however says Kenya’s Wanyonyi holds the edge over the others and backs him to up the ante with a world record breaking run this year.

“The fact that Arop has the height advantage over Wanyonyi, it does count. But Wanyonyi has proven himself with his front-running. Look at how he won the Olympics he led from the gun to the tape and ran a good time. Both athletes have strengths, but Wanyonyi has the edge,” he said.

“It’s possible to break the record. The margins are there and all indications are there,” said Bungei.

“Rudisha’s record has endured, but it’s no longer untouchable. With Wanyonyi, Arop, Sedjati, and Gabriel Tual pushing the limits, it’s only a matter of time. These athletes are consistently clocking 1:41 and if they push each other in one race, the record will fall.”

While optimistic, Bungei acknowledged that breaking the 800m record requires more than just talent. He emphasized the importance of ideal race conditions, fast tracks, and proper pacing.

“World records often happen in Olympic years because of the specialized training and preparation athletes undergo.”

Bungei highlighted modern pacing tools as a key factor in pushing times lower.

“Laser pacing beams show athletes if they’re on world record pace. If I had access to such technology, I believe I could have run 1:40.70 or even 1:40.50,” he said, reflecting on his lifetime best of 1:42.34.

Bungei also cautioned Kenyan athletes against over-racing with the run up to the 2025 World Championship in Tokyo, citing past examples of burnout.

“For anyone who wants to win the World Championship, history has shown us that limiting races is key. Take for example America’s superstar Noah Lyles before he went to the Olympics, he only had two major races. Especially for Kenyan athletes, I’d advise limiting races to maybe two or three in the 800m and 1500m events.”

He further referenced sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala’s struggles, saying: “I had a conversation with Omanyala. Last year, he exhausted himself with too many races, and that led to burnout at the Paris Olympics.”