The previous world record was held by Noah Ngeny, also from Kenya, when he ran 2:11.96 in 1999.
On Friday evening, Wanyonyi, Olympic gold medallist and world champion in the 800 meters, was faster, running 1,000 meters in 2:11.83.
"I am very happy to have broken the record. The conditions were good and my legs felt light. The last 200 meters were challenging but I had a kick in the last 100," Wanyonyi said, according to SVT.
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