Sedjati scoops Ultimate title with 800m victory in Budapest

Djamel Sedjati wins the 800m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 (© Getty Images)

A well-timed finished gave Djamel Sedjati the advantage in the men’s 800m final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 as the Algerian won in 1:41.91.

The 27-year-old had finished in the top two in all of his 800m races before heading to the Hungarian capital; in two of those outings, he’d got to the line first. In the other three, he had just run out of track and had to settle for the runner-up spot.

Tonight in Budapest, though, he executed his plan to perfection.

Canada’s Marco Arop – who had won the world title in this stadium in 2023 – led from the early stages, passing through the first lap in 49.67 with world and Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi a stride or two behind.

Arop continued to hold the lead with 200 metres to go, but his momentum showed signs of stalling as the field entered the home straight.

Sedjati moved into the lead with about 25 metres to go and crossed the line in a Hungarian all-comers’ record of 1:41.91, winning his first global title after taking world silvers in 2022 and 2025, as well as Olympic bronze in 2024.

Arop held on for second in 1:42.28 and Wanyonyi took third in 1:42.44. In a high-quality race where the first seven athletes finished inside 1:43, USA’s Brandon Miller placed fourth (1:42.54) and Francesco Pernici set an Italian record of 1:42.67 in fifth.

“That was very tactical but also very fast, and I am really happy to have won this race today,” said Sedjati. “This is the first title for me so I'm incredibly happy and grateful to everyone who supported me.”

Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics