Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi (centre) crosses the line to win the men's 800m final ahead of Algeria's Djamel Sedjati (left) during Lausanne Diamond League at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, on Friday. [AFP]
Measured steps and a tactical homestretch push decided the winner of the men’s 800m showdown at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland on Friday night.
Two-lap greats had blazed around the Pontaise Olympic Stadium track, but it was Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi who stamped his authority.
The 800m thriller had kicked off with huge expectations of a memorable show, and that is exactly what the deep field, which included world gold medallist Marco Arop of Canada and rising star Djamel Sedjati of Algeria, served up to expectant fans.
However, Sedjati mounted the highest pressure on Wanyonyi in the closing stages of the hot contest in Lausanne.
It was expected to be a battle that would have seen the bigwigs reach the 1:41 territory, but that could not be achieved at the Pontaise Olympic Stadium.
Wanyonyi won his first Diamond League 800m of the year in 1:42.19 after chasing down Arop and holding off a strong Sedjati.