TOKYO, Japan — Navasky Anderson didn’t just run the men’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships — he made a statement and redefined what it means to be a Jamaican middle distance runner.

“I gave it my best today and I can walk away from today saying, ‘I gave it my all,’ ” Anderson said.

Anderson, 25, made history by becoming the first Jamaican man to feature in an 800m final at the world championships, and he made certain not to just go along for the ride or become an extra in the two-lap blockbuster.

His intention was clear from the first very few strides: This was about daring to push himself against the world’s best, taking risks, and giving himself a chance to fight for glory. That fight brought him a seventh-place finish in 1:42.76 – a huge national record as he became the first Jamaican to dip below 1:43.00.

The event was won by Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi, 1:41.86, with Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, 1:41.90, taking silver and Canada’s Marco Arop, 1:41.95 finishing in third position.

“I might not have won the medal today but I know I won many hearts. I am going back to the drawing board, going back into training, putting in the work. And I might not be the champion today but Navasky Anderson will definitely be a champion one day,” Anderson told the Jamaica Observer after his run.

“I am grateful for that national record. I can tell you for sure that it will be short-lived because next season I will be going back for it over and over again,” said Anderson who also shared that he will be pushing his peers to their best as they look to continue moving the needle in Jamaican middle distance running. “I am going to continue to motivate Tyrice [Taylor], Rivaldo [Marshall], and all the guys who are here and there, and [I will] keep pushing the barriers of Jamaican middle distance [running].”

Anderson’s approach was fearless as he took on the leaders from the onset, bucked heads and was in the mix, up to the final 80m when the fight started to take its toll.

“I could have stuck around at the back and try running from the back — and I could have blown up from there as well — but I needed to give myself the opportunity to fight for a medal, and that was my goal. And I definitely did fight for a medal tonight and I am grateful for that,” Anderson added.

Navasky Anderson (left) of Jamaica and Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana race in the men’s 800m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on September 20, 2025. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

“Coming into this season, my theme was breaking barriers and I’ve done that and will continue to do that — and win, lose, or draw, I will continue to fight.”

With only a few months in his new training programme, under the guidance of his Under Armour team and coach Thomas Brumlik, Anderson is confidently looking forward to continued growth.

“It’s very scary because I haven’t even been in my training group for a year. I am just a few months in with my new training group, training programme. I had an exceptional year, an exceptional season,” he said.

Brumlik hailed Anderson’s effort and believes he will continue to make telling strides in the near future.

“He ran to win, which I was not surprised about because he is incredibly competitive and believes in himself, and I do as well. And for him to put himself up there  — a lot of persons stay off the pace early [but] he was up there — and I was pretty impressed. A lot of people have said it was a brave run, and that’s the best way to describe it,” Brumlik told the Jamaica Observer.

“He had the confidence, didn’t quite have the finish, but it’s his first world final, first time making it out of the first round so we can’t complain. He has a bright future,” Brumlik added.