Grand Slam Track: How Much Emmanuel Wanyonyi Earned After Kingston Heroics

Emmanuel Wanyonyi sent out a strong statement of intent to his rivals with a dominant showing in his first global competition of the season.

Wanyonyi was part of the marquee star attractions at the inaugural Grand Slam Track, which began in Kingston.

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The 800m Olympic champion joined other stars from Paris like Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as Michael Johnson's brainchild came to life in the Jamaican capital.

Wanyonyi, as TUKO.co.ke exclusively reported in February, was signed as one of the challengers in the men's short distance group.

He was paired with his arch-nemesis Marco Arop whom they already have a storied rivalry. The Canadian beat Wanyonyi to the world title in Budapest 2023 before the Kenyan responded by winning the Olympic gold in Paris last year.

The men's short distance group, like all the other categories, has four core races who will compete in every slam event. The core racers are Arop, American duo Yared Nuguse and Cole Hocker and Great Britain's Josh Kerr.

The eight competed in the 800m and 1500m. Wanyonyi surprisingly beat 1500m favourites in their own discipline on Friday night. The 20-year-old overpowered his competitors on the final stretch to lower his personal best to 3:35.18.

The result was impressive given that he has only competed in the 1500m once before and he beat seasoned and accomplished 1500m runners. Hocker is the reigning Olympic champion, Kerr is the world champion and silver medalist in Paris, while Nuguse won bronze at the same event.

After taking down the 1500m runners at their own event, Wanyonyi was expected to make easy work when he returned to his favourite discipline on Sunday night. He, however, seemingly felt the effects of that 1500m run, settling for second place behind Arop.

Despite failing to win, Wanyonyi was declared the overall winner of the men's short distance in Kingston after garnering 20 points, five more than Arop in second place.

How much Emmanuel Wanyonyi got from Grand Slam Track

For his heroics, the 2-running-club athlete is set to smile all the way to the bank. Grand Slam Track made a lot of headlines for its lucrative prize money as Johnson attempts to change the game.

All slam champions won $100,000, which means Wanyonyi is now approximately 13 million Kenya Shillings richer.

More to follow.