The fastest 800 m athletes of 1997
Wilson Kipketer becomes World Champion
Where will it all end? Not satisfied with equalling the world record and becoming World Champion, Wilson Kipketer went on to expand his limits even further in Zürich and Köln. The result was a stunning 1:41.11, a world record that would stand for well over ten years. Next he won the Grand Prix final in Fukuoka, and did win the overall Grand Prix as well.
Wilson Kipketer's 1997 season took on epic proportions: let us summarize:
  • He won the World Indoor Championship in Paris
  • He broke the World Indoor Record twice along the way
  • He equalled Seb Coe's World Record in Stockholm
  • He became World Champion in Athens (see picture)
  • He broke the longest standing track and field World Record in Zürich
  • He broke his own World Record once more in Köln
  • He won the Grand Prix Final in Fukuoka, and
  • He thus became overall Grand Prix Winner as well
  • He did in fact win all his races, and usually with distance
That's just nothing short of perfection!
#AthleteNat TimeDateVenue
1 Wilson KipketerDEN1.41.1124-08-1997Köln
2 Patrick NdururiKEN1.42.6213-08-1997Zürich A
3 Patrick KonchellahKEN1.42.9824-08-1997Köln
4 Hezekiél SepengRSA1.43.1924-08-1997Köln
5 Mark EverettUSA1.43.2009-07-1997Linz A
6 Rich KenahUSA1.43.3813-08-1997Zürich A
7 Arthémon HatungimanaBDI1.43.5613-08-1997Zürich B
8 Japheth KimutaiKEN1.43.6413-08-1997Zürich B
9 Norberto TéllezCUB1.44.0008-08-1997Athene
10 Marko KoersNED1.44.0122-08-1997Bruxelles
11 David KiptooKEN1.44.0913-09-1997Fukuoka
12 Vebjørn RodalNOR1.44.2407-07-1997Stockholm
13 Frederik OnyanchaKEN1.44.3902-07-1997Lausanne
14 Andrea LongoITA1.44.4005-06-1997Roma A
15 Vincent MalakwenKEN1.44.4 m10-05-1997Nairobi
16 Laban RotichKEN1.44.4713-08-1997Zürich B
17 Johnny GrayUSA1.44.5609-07-1997Linz A
18 Adem HeciniALG1.44.5913-08-1997Zürich B
19 Hendrik MokganyetsiRSA1.44.6208-06-1997Moskva
20 Einars TupuritisLAT1.44.6720-08-1997Riga
21 Brandon RockUSA1.44.7914-06-1997Indianapolis
22 Robert ChirchirKEN1.44.8531-05-1997Hengelo
23 Nathan KahanBEL1.44.8722-08-1997Bruxelles
24 Mohamed YagoubSUD1.44.8919-08-1997Bellinzona
25 Panayotis StroubakosGRE1.45.0013-08-1997Zürich B
26 Benyounès LahlouMAR1.45.0204-07-1997Oslo
27 Robert KibetKEN1.45.1703-09-1997Rieti
28 Shaun BenefieldUSA1.45.2114-06-1997Indianapolis
29 Benson KoechKEN1.45.2207-07-1997Stockholm
30 Andrea GiocondiITA1.45.2413-08-1997Zürich B
31 Kennedy OseiGHA1.45.3214-06-1997Sopot
32 André BucherSUI1.45.3305-08-1997Athene q2
33 Nico MotchebonGER1.45.3313-06-1997Nürnberg
34 Giuseppe d'UrsoITA1.45.3508-06-1997Padova
35 Joel MarwaKEN1.45.3518-05-1997Gisingen
36 Pavel SoukupCZE1.45.3713-06-1997Nürnberg
37 Osmar dos SantosBRA1.45.3804-05-1997Rio de Janeiro
38 Dave MatthewsIRL1.45.3819-08-1997Bellinzona
39 Andrea AbelliITA1.45.4 m26-07-1997Tirrenia
40 Tor Øyvind ØdegaardNOR1.45.4205-08-1997Athene q2
41 Ivan KomarBLR1.45.4414-06-1997Sopot
42 David LeleiKEN1.45.4410-06-1997Bratislava
43 Peter BiwottKEN1.45.4511-06-1997Praha
44 Philip KibitokKEN1.45.4519-07-1997Hechtel
45 Lukás VydraCZE1.45.5114-06-1997Sopot
46 William TanuiKEN1.45.5520-07-1997Lappeenranta A
47 Marius van HeerdenRSA1.45.6308-04-1997Capetown
48 Gert-Jan LiefersNED1.45.6631-05-1997Hengelo
49 Mahjoub HaïdaMAR1.45.76i09-03-1997Bercy
50 Bryan WoodwardUSA1.45.7814-06-1997Indianapolis
51 Andrei LoginovRUS1.45.9208-06-1997Moskva
52 Valdinei da SilvaBRA1.45.9304-05-1997Rio de Janeiro
53 Oliver DaumGER1.46.0424-08-1997Köln
54 Mark SesayGBR1.46.0518-05-1997Loughborough
55 Viktors LacisLAT1.46.0719-07-1997Riga
56 Tim RoggeBEL1.46.0719-07-1997Hechtel
57 Jose Luiz BarbosaBRA1.46.0804-07-1997Rio de Janeiro
58 Graham HoodCAN1.46.1508-06-1997Moskva
59 Mark TonksNZL1.46.1513-07-1997Stuttgart
60 Savieri N'GidhiZIM1.46.1603-09-1997Dortmund
61 James NjorogeKEN1.46.1731-05-1997Marietta
62 Said LakhalMAR1.46.2022-06-1997Geneve
63 Andrés DiazESP1.46.2529-05-1997Sevilla
64 Paul ByrneAUS1.46.2719-07-1997Hechtel
65 Oleg StepanovRUS1.46.2908-06-1997Moskva
66 David KrummenackerUSA1.46.3010-07-1997Lignano
67 Gideon van OudtshoornRSA1.46.3208-03-1997Potchefstroom
68 Mario Vernon-WatsonJAM1.46.3208-04-1997Capetown
69 Balász TölgyesiHUN1.46.3320-04-1997Walnut
70 Barnaby ShoneRSA1.46.3508-04-1997Capetown
71 Joseph TengeleiKEN1.46.3509-07-1997Linz B
72 Andy HartGBR1.46.3613-07-1997Birmingham
73 Kipkemboi LagatKEN1.46.4 m10-05-1997Nairobi
74 Paul WalkerGBR1.46.4022-07-1997Stretford
75 Elliott GaskinsUSA1.46.4212-06-1997Indianapolis 1
76 Lars JuckenGER1.46.4420-08-1997Leverkusen
77 Robert AndersenDEN1.46.4720-08-1997Malmö
78 Michael WildnerAUT1.46.4709-07-1997Linz A
79 Wilson KirwaFIN1.46.5301-07-1997Kristiinankaupunki
80 Ndumiso MdzinisoSWZ1.46.5401-07-1997Kristiinankaupunki
81 Mark EpliniusGER1.46.61i09-02-1997Dortmund
82 Nils SchumannGER1.46.6120-08-1997Leverkusen
83 Egils TebelisLAT1.46.6419-07-1997Riga
84 Anders ChristiansenUSA1.46.6606-06-1997Bloomington
85 Giacomo MazzoniITA1.46.6610-07-1997Lignano
86 Bernard KisiluKEN1.46.6730-08-1997Bristol
87 Steve HolmanUSA1.46.6820-07-1997Lappeenranta A
88 Jean DestineHAI1.46.6919-08-1997Bellinzona
89 Jurgens KotzéRSA1.46.7708-03-1997Potchefstroom
90 Aaron SamanskyUSA1.46.8312-06-1997Indianapolis 1
91 Julius AchonUGA1.46.8417-05-1997Chapell Hill
92 Djabir Saïd-GuerniALG1.46.8414-07-1997Beirut
93 Kevin McKayGBR1.46.8730-08-1997Bristol
94 Andrea CeccarelliITA1.46.8910-07-1997Lignano
95 Joachim DehmelGER1.46.89i02-02-1997Stuttgart
96 Miklos ArpasiHUN1.46.9019-07-1997Hechtel
97 José Manuel CerezoESP1.46.9 m23-07-1997Malaga
98 Henry OngetaKEN1.46.9006-07-1997Andorra
99 Ebeneza FelixRSA1.46.9108-03-1997Potchefstroom
100 Oliver MünzerAUT1.46.9309-07-1997Linz A
101 Venuste NiyongaboBDI1.46.9324-06-1997Torino
102 William BestCAN1.46.9520-04-1997Walnut
103 Flavio GodoyBRA1.46.9505-07-1997Rio de Janeiro
104 Billy KonchellahKEN1.46.9711-06-1997Praha
105 Ali HakimiTUN1.47.0419-07-1997Regensdorf
106 Juan Carlos EstesoESP1.47.0505-09-1997Madrid
107 James NolanIRL1.47.0630-05-1997Riga
108 William ChirchirKEN1.47.0820-08-1997Rovereto
109 O'Neil DuncanJAM1.47.1 m19-04-1997Wilmington
110 Brendan HaniganAUS1.47.1015-03-1997Brisbane
111 David DivadFRA1.47.1322-06-1997Nogent-sur-Marne
112 Charles NkazamyampiBUR1.47.1317-07-1997Limoges
113 Ivars BaikovsLAT1.47.1419-07-1997Riga
114 Davide CadoniITA1.47.1508-09-1997Oristano
115 Isaac TurnerUSA1.47.1503-05-1997Los Angeles
116 Anthony WhitemanGBR1.47.1621-05-1997Granada
117 Grant CuddyGBR1.47.2 m22-07-1997Stretford
118 Francis MarwaKEN1.47.2 m09-05-1997Nairobi
119 Jimmy Jean-JosephFRA1.47.2231-05-1997Villeurbanne
120 Albert RoysterUSA1.47.2212-06-1997Indianapolis 1
121 Dennis van TongerenNED1.47.2217-05-1997Duffel
122 Driss MaazouziFRA1.47.2531-05-1997Villeurbanne
123 Clive TerrelongeJAM1.47.2510-07-1997Lignano
124 Philip MaiyoKEN1.47.2601-07-1997Kristiinankaupunki
125 Balász KorányiHUN1.47.2912-04-1997Durham
126 Jason LoboGBR1.47.2911-06-1997Cottbus
127 Alex MorganJAM1.47.2920-08-1997Leverkusen
128 Eronildo de AlmeidaBRA1.47.3004-07-1997Rio de Janeiro
129 Joe KingUSA1.47.3012-06-1997Indianapolis 2
130 Bruno KonczyloFRA1.47.3217-07-1997Limoges
131 Elijah MaruKEN1.47.3301-03-1997Melbourne
132 Fermin CachoESP1.47.3622-08-1997Bruxelles
133 Grant CremerAUS1.47.3706-12-1997Canberra
134 Rizak DirsheSWE1.47.3720-08-1997Malmö
135 Japie van ZijlRSA1.47.3708-03-1997Potchefstroom
136 Grzegorz KrzosekPOL1.47.3814-06-1997Sopot
137 Trinity TownsendUSA1.47.3931-05-1997Dedham
138 Oliver PoeschlGER1.47.4013-06-1997Nürnberg
139 Jean-Gilles TalinFRA1.47.4028-06-1997Geneve
140 Jose Antonio RedolatESP1.47.4216-06-1997Bari
141 Ibrahim AdenSOM1.47.4423-07-1997Hamburg
142 Dakari LenearUSA1.47.4408-05-1997College Station
143 Craig WinrowGBR1.47.4418-05-1997Loughborough
144 Johan BothaRSA1.47.4502-04-1997Pretoria
145 Dalibor BalgacCRO1.47.4616-06-1997Bari
146 Reyes EstévezESP1.47.4621-05-1997Granada
147 Khadevis RobinsonUSA1.47.4614-05-1997Houston
148 Urmet UusorgEST1.47.4621-06-1997Kuortane
149 Jeff HojnackiUSA1.47.50o22-02-1997Notre Dame 2
150 Reuben ChesangKEN1.47.5204-07-1997Baden-Baden
151 Ousmane DiarraFRA1.47.5217-07-1997Limoges
152 Thomas KorirKEN1.47.5431-07-1997Vammala
153 Marcio da SilvaBRA1.47.6204-07-1997Rio de Janeiro
154 Sergey KozhevnikovRUS1.47.6327-08-1997Catania
155 Branko ZorkoCRO1.47.6322-08-1997Bitburg
156 Julius ChepkwonyKEN1.47.6418-08-1997Bellinzona
157 Joseph RakotoarimananaMAD1.47.6407-06-1997Merignac
158 Kevin MurphyUSA1.47.65i08-02-1997Boston
159 Vyacheslav ShabuninRUS1.47.6727-06-1997Dreux
160 Martin ReidJAM1.47.6819-06-1997Kingston 1
161 Heath FitzpatrickAUS1.47.7115-03-1997Brisbane
162 Trinity GrayUSA1.47.7224-05-1997Fairfax
163 Marvin WattsJAM1.47.73i27-02-1997Gainesville
164 Atle DouglasNOR1.47.7404-07-1997Oslo
165 John KibowenKEN1.47.7414-06-1997Tonsberg
166 Jaron MingUSA1.47.7724-05-1997Seattle
167 Justin RinaldiAUS1.47.7801-03-1997Melbourne
168 Roman OravecCZE1.47.7912-07-1997Jablonec
169 Abdul AbdulrahmanQAT1.47.8117-06-1997Praha
170 Robin MartinUSA1.47.8103-05-1997Fairfax
171 Andrey BulkovskyUKR1.47.8308-06-1997Moskva
172 Jiang ZhidongCHN1.47.8321-01-1997Shanghai
173 Andrea BenvenutiITA1.47.8524-08-1997Avezzano
174 Richard PotierFRA1.47.8604-06-1997Saint-Mur
175 Darrin StrongUSA1.47.8804-06-1997Bloomington
176 Justin Swift-SmithGBR1.47.9 m07-08-1997Swindon
177 Michael GranvilleUSA1.47.9303-05-1997Los Angeles
178 Alexander AdamGER1.47.9413-06-1997Nürnberg
179 Artem MastrovRUS1.47.9619-07-1997Moskva
180 Bert QuintelierBEL1.47.9729-06-1997Oordegem
181 Carlos GarciaESP1.47.9829-05-1997Sevilla
182 Aaron RichbergUSA1.47.99i08-03-1997Indianapolis