Ruto praises Emmanuel Wanyonyi after he smashes men’s 1,000m world record at Monaco Diamond League
By Joel Masibo, July 11, 2026President William Ruto has hailed Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi for producing a historic performance at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, July 10, 2026, breaking the men’s 1000m world record in his first-ever race over the distance.
The reigning Olympic and world 800m champion crossed the finish line in 2:11.83, shaving 0.13 seconds off the previous world record of 2:11.96, which had been held by fellow Kenyan Noah Ngeny since 1999.
Taking to his social media pages shortly after Wanyonyi’s heroics, Ruto said:
“Congratulations to Emmanuel Wanyonyi on breaking the men’s 1000m world record with a remarkable 2:11.83 at the Monaco Diamond League, ending a 27-year wait for a new world record in the event.”
“Wanyonyi’s historic achievement has once again shown the world the strength of Kenyan athletics and made our nation immensely proud. His outstanding milestone will inspire many more generations of champions.” He added.
The meeting at Stade Louis II witnessed a series of remarkable performances across both track and field events. Besides Wanyonyi’s world record, several meeting records, world-leading marks and some of the fastest performances ever recorded highlighted an action-packed evening featuring athletes such as Agnes Ngetich, Julien Alfred, Collen Kebinatshipi, Masai Russell, Marileidy Paulino, Miltiadis Tentoglou, Mondo Duplantis and Nina Kennedy.
The race unfolded exactly to plan, with pacemaker Patryk Sieradzki taking the field through 400 metres in 50.95 before Louey Ouerrat guided the runners to 800 metres in 1:45.11. Wanyonyi then surged clear over the final stretch while Britain’s Jake Wightman attempted to keep pace.
The Kenyan stormed home in 2:11.83, while Wightman clocked 2:12.77 to move into fifth place on the all-time rankings. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati completed the podium in 2:13.94 as six athletes finished inside 2:15.
“This was the first time I ran the 1000m and breaking the world record makes me so happy,” said Wanyonyi. “I want to thank the other athletes who pushed me to my limit.”
Ngetich stills show
Another Kenyan, Agnes Ngetich, also delivered one of the standout performances of the evening after winning the women’s 3000m in a meeting record of 8:08.95, the third-fastest time in history.
Faith Kipyegon, who sits second on the all-time list and was continuing her return from a hamstring injury sustained after her Shanghai victory in May, placed fourth in 8:24.21. Ethiopia’s Aleshign Baweke finished second with a personal best of 8:23.81, while Senayet Getachew also recorded a lifetime best of 8:24.02 for third.
Competing in her first track race of the season after opening the year with victory at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Ngetich stayed close to the pacemakers through the opening stages before taking command with three laps remaining. Although she drifted slightly away from world-record pace in the closing laps, she comfortably secured victory and cemented her place among the fastest women ever over the distance.