World Athletics Ultimate Championship: Wanyonyi to lead Kenya in hunt for over Ksh19M
By Luke Oluoch, September 12, 2026Olympic and reigning World 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is among the headline Kenyan stars set to spearhead the nation’s hunt for honours at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, which will see winners of each event bag a record Ksh19.38 million.
The three-day event, running from Friday, September 11, 2026, to Sunday, September 13, 2026, has become a biennial feature in the World Athletics calendar. It comprises an elite, invite-only competition featuring Olympic gold medalists, World Championship gold medalists, Diamond League winners, and the top performers of 2026 based on the World Rankings qualification system.
Kenyan star list
Wanyonyi joins World 1,500m silver medalist Dorcus Ewoi, javelin icon Julius Yego, and middle-distance stars Phanuel Koech and Timothy Cheruiyot in Budapest as he seeks to extend his fine form for the year.
The middle-distance star begins his quest in the men’s 800 m semi-finals tonight at 6:26 pm, with his sights firmly fixed on sealing a place in Sunday’s final scheduled for 7:40 pm.
The middle-distance sensation arrives in Budapest riding an extraordinary run of form after capturing a record fourth consecutive Diamond League title, becoming the first athlete in history to achieve the feat in the men’s two-lap event.
At last weekend’s Brussels Diamond League final, Wanyonyi dominated proceedings, producing a breathtaking front-running masterclass to storm home in a blistering 1:41.80.
Huge prize money for successful participants
As a fitting reward scheme for those crowned the best in track and field, World Athletics has lined up a lucrative Ksh1.29 billion ($10 million) prize pot, which will see winners of each event bag a record Ksh19.38 million.
The prize is more than double what was awarded at previous major global championships, with second place taking home Ksh9.69 million, third place Ksh5.17 million ($40,000), and payouts extending all the way down to Ksh258,400 ($2,000) for 16th-place finishers.
Meanwhile, Ewoi will line up in the women’s 1,500 m at 8:36 pm on Saturday, as she chases a maiden global senior title.
Sunday action will see Veteran javelin thrower Yego seeking to wrap up his season in style when he contests the men’s javelin final at 7:13 pm.
Youngster Koech and former world champion Cheruiyot will line up in Sunday’s blockbuster men’s 1,500m final at 9:12 pm.