Last indoor season Josh Hoey had improved himself to 1:43.24, the second fastest indoor time behind Wilson Kipketer's World Record of 1:42.67. Kipketer ran that stunning record in the World Indoor Championship final, all the way back in 1997. For 29 years it had never been seriously under threat.

A few weeks ago in Boston Josh had ran a World Best on the rarely run 600m indoor, and felt in great shape. He had announced that beating Wilson's mark was his next goal. And so he returned to Boston and paced by his older brother Jaxson the first 400m was covered in 50.21, right on schedule. Josh was on his own from there on, but mentioned afterwards that the support from the public had urged him on.

And he did it! The new World Indoor Record now stands at 1:42.50. Josh said that he felt he was closer to the beginning rather than the end of the journey. It's only January and the season already promises to be very exciting.

    Result:
 1 Josh Hoey               USA   1:42.50
 2 Filip Ostrowski         POL   1:44.68
 3 Ryan Clarke             NED   1:44.72
 4 Hiroki Minamoto         JPN   1:52.08
 - Jaxson Hoey             USA   DNF

When Emmanuel Wanyonyi took an early lead it was clear that a very fast final was on the cards, and a first lap completed in 49.27 seconds showed just how fast it was.

Wanyonyi kept going, and although Marco Arop briefly came level with him, and Djamel Sedjati sprinted to the line Wanyonyi managed to hang on and took the gold medal.

It's the second global title for this incredibly talented youngster. Only 21 years old, he is. Who knows how many more titles he can add?

Full reports of all WC 800m races

    Result:
 1. Emmanuel Wanyonyi      KEN  1:41.86
 2. Djamel Sedjati         ALG  1:41.90
 3. Marco Arop             CAN  1:41.95
 4. Cian McPhillips        IRL  1:42.15
 5. Mohamed Attaoui        ESP  1:42.21
 6. Max Burgin             GBR  1:42.29
 7. Navasky Anderson       JAM  1:42.76
 8. Tshepiso Masalela      BOT  1:42.77

All eight contenders in the Diamond League final had run 1:42 this season, and six of them had done so more than once. It illustrates the incredibly high level of competition on the 800m over the past few years.

After pacemaker par excellence Sieradzki had completed the first lap in 49.00 Emmanuel Wanyonyi was left in the lead. On the back straight he threatened to run away from the field, but Max Burgin and Marco Arop responded and kept themselves in contention.

Around the bend Burgin and Arop came closer and closer, but Josh Hoey lost ground and so he had to give up his dream of winning the race and qualifying for the World Championships.

Burgin came within touching distance of the leader but Wanyonyi grimly hung on and in the end he did just enough to claim his third Diamond League final victory.

    Result:
 1  Emmanuel Wanyonyi      KEN   1:42.37
 2  Max Burgin             GBR   1:42.42
 3  Marco Arop             CAN   1:42.57
 4  Djamel Sedjati         ALG   1:42.84
 5  Tshepiso Masalela      BOT   1:43.16
 6  Mohamed Attaoui        ESP   1:43.35
 7  Bryce Hoppel           USA   1:43.78
 8  Josh Hoey              USA   1:44.25

Last year the race in Lausanne was the fastest 800m of the season, with Emmanuel Wanyonyi almost running a new World Record. But this year's steady downpour made records all but impossible. Still, the pacemaker went out fast (49.2) with Wanyonyi, Max Burgin, Josh Hoey and Marco Arop all following in single file.

When the pacemaker dropped out Wanyonyi seemed to ease up slightly. So much so that Arop decided to rush into the lead, with Burgin at his shoulder. Into the final straight Arop and Burgin were leading, but also struggling, and Wanyonyi was apparently ready to strike.

Hoey however had started his final dash just a bit earlier, and sprinted to the front. While Wanyonyi did catch the two leaders he was unable to reach Hoey.

And so Josh Hoey won the race in a very fast time considering the weather conditions. Should he win next week's Diamond League final he will qualify for the Tokyo World Championships after all.

    Result:
 1  Josh Hoey              USA   1:42.82
 2  Emmanuel Wanyonyi      KEN   1:43.29
 3  Mohamed Attaoui        ESP   1:43.38
 4  Max Burgin             GBR   1:43.44
 5  Marco Arop             CAN   1:43.91
 6  Tshepiso Masalela      BOT   1:44.51
 7  Yanis Meziane          FRA   1:44.77
 8  Ivan Pelizza           SUI   1:45.52
 9  Bryce Hoppel           USA   1:48.18

The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) organize championships every two years, and this year these were held in Freeport (Bahamas). The elite runners do not often participate there, but this year Brandon Miller, having missed out qualification for the World Championships, was ready to give it a shot.

Miller had what looked like an infallible strategy. He knew he can run a low 1:43, even when leading the race from start to finish. And he also knew that none of his rivals had even run close to 1:44. Navasky Anderson for instance, had run 1:44.40 earlier this year, Handal Roban 1:44.39 and Tyrice Taylor had not even broken 1:45. And so Miller took the lead, set a scorcing pace, and although Anderson was not too far off, Roban and Taylor were already further behind.

But strange things happen on the 800 meter over the last two years. Records tumble left, right and centre. And on the final straight, while Anderson was faltering, Roban found something extra and then some. Miller finished in 1:43.15, just 0.01 off his PB. Everything just as planned. But Roban stormed past and finished in a stunning 1:42.87, a big, big national record for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Behind these two Tyrice Taylor finshed third in a new national record as well.

Said Roban after the race: You know, I only came here to have some fun.... Well, that worked out. On the all time list he has risen spectacularly from position 265 all the way up to number 49!

    Result:
 1  Handal Roban           VIN   1:42.87
 2  Brandon Miller         USA   1:43.15
 3  Tyrice Taylor          JAM   1:43.74
 4  Navasky Anderson       JAM   1:44.18
 5  Abdullahi Hassan       CAN   1:44.25
 6  Matti Erickson         CAN   1:46.80
 7  John Rivera            PUR   1:47.11
 8  Nicholas Landeau       TTO   1:47.84

As usual the US Championships also served to select three athletes for the World Championships. Josh Hoey and Bryce Hoppel looked 'certain' to qualify, unless of course Brandon Miller or the reborn 2019 World Champion Donavan Brazier would interfere with their plans.

Hoey was expected to take them out fast, but his 49.2 opening was perhaps too ambitious. Hoey, Hoppel, Brazier and Miller soon separated themselves from the others. In the final straight Hoey was tiring and Brazier, looking as strong as ever, sprinted to victory. Suddenly youngster Cooper Lutkenhaus appeared from nowhere and with a phenomenal dash he passed everyone except Brazier. Hoppel was still safe in third, but Hoey (despite running 1:43.06!) suffered a shock exit.

Brazier ran a new PB, and in fact he ran the fastest time ever recorded by any athlete aged 28 years or older. But the main sensation was Lutkenhaus, who at 16 ran a new U18 World Best and improved his own PB by over three seconds! Said Brazier: "Luckily I'm probably not around anymore when this guy hits his peak!"

    Result:
 1 Donavan Brazier         USA   1:42.16
 2 Cooper Lutkenhaus       USA   1:42.27
 3 Bryce Hoppel            USA   1:42.49
 4 Josh Hoey               USA   1:43.06
 5 Brandon Miller          USA   1:43.14
 6 Isaiah Harris           USA   1:44.23
 7 Abraham Alvarado        USA   1:44.41
 8 Camden Marshall         USA   1:44.89
 9 Colin Sahlman           USA   1:45.99