Emmanuel Wanyonyi wants rematch against Cooper Lutkenhaus after surprising loss in Oslo

World and Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is looking forward to a rematch with 17-year-old American talent Cooper Lutkenhaus after suffering a shock defeat to him on Wednesday night. Under the spotlight at the Diamond League in Oslo, Cooper Lutkenhaus produced a stunning performance, clocking a world-best time of 1:42.08 min. He edged out Emmanuel Wanyonyi by a slim margin in a thrilling two-lap battle.

The Kenyan star crossed the finish line just one-hundredth of a second later, clocking 1:42.09 min, while Canada’s Marco Arop rounded out the podium in 1:43.33 min.

Reflecting on the race, Emmanuel Wanyonyi admitted that the American phenom had pushed him to the limit. “This kid is in great form. Can you believe that as an Olympic champion you’re trying to beat a 17-year-old?”, asked he rhetorically.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi took control of the race from the start, setting the pace on the first lap and staying in the lead until the 600m mark, before Cooper Lutkenhaus launched a decisive late attack. “I started the race at the front and after 600m I tried to see who was coming to push me”, said Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

The Kenyan revealed that he tried to respond when Cooper Lutkenhaus passed him, but the teenager had already found some extra speed. “Then I saw him overtaking me and I tried to respond”, he noted.

After his performance in Oslo, Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s attention turns to Monaco, where he hopes to return to winning ways. “I plan to go home to train for the next race in Monaco and spend some time with my family”, added he.