Olympic 800m champions Emmanuel Wanyonyi says breaking the World Record in the two-lap race is not yet on his mind, and his major focus this season is on running a new personal best time.
The 20-year old holds the second joint fastest time ever in the race, having clocked 1:41.11 at the Lausanne Diamond League last year. This time, which now ranks as his personal best time, is closing in on David Rudisha’s 1:40.91 World Record, which he earned at the Olympic Games in London in 2012.
His run, coupled by his steady rise in the competitive race as awoken talks of a possible assault at the World Record, but, speaking exclusively to Telecomasia.net, Wanyonyi says it will take a lot to lower that mark.
My main aim this season is to run a new personal best time. I am not thinking about the World Record because this is not something that you just wake up and say you will go run the World Record. You have to internalize it, prepare well and execute well. I respect Rudisha’s record a lot because before he broke it, he lowered his PB almost five times and for me, it has happened once and I cannot talk of going for the World Record.
He says his biggest target this season is to become World Champion In Tokyo, Japan, later this year. Having missed out on the title at the last World Championships in Budapest, Wanyonyi is fueled by his win at the Olympic Games last year to go for the global silverware.
That is what I am working on this season and my entire preparation has been focused on that. I missed out on Budapest because I lacked experience and I was still young but now I have learnt some lessons and I am motivated to go for the World title. Preparation has gone on okay and my build up has started really well. My target is to go on well, injury free until September, then I fight for the world crown.
The youngster has started his season with two competitive race, running a non-conventional 1500m race at the Grand Slam Track in Jamaica as well as his specialty 800m race. He won the 1500 and finished second in the 800.
