The World Athletics on Monday announced that it had nominated three Kenyan gold medalists to be considered for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Men’s Track Athlete of the Year.
The three included Paris gold medalist Faith Kipyegon who has been making headlines for smashing great marathon records that she has participated in over the last year.
The list also includes the 800m race champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi who has equally been remarkable on the pitch since making his debut.
Kenya’s Olympic and World 10,000m champion Beatrice Chebet has also had a good run this year for most of the races she has participated in.
Kipyegon recently made a name for herself by breaking the Olympic World record, winning the 2024 games with an impressive time of 3:51.29.
On the other hand, Chebet has famous records to herself that include the Current World record holder of the 10,000m marathon, the Prefontaine Classic where she won after a record time of 28:54.14.
The 24-year-old also has the 2024 Olympic gold medal and is a two-time winner of the Diamond League marathon as well as a World Championships silver medalist.
For Wanyonyi, the recent key participation that will likely make it for him include the recent August Olympic games where he won a gold medal in the 800m race, a two-time Diamond League Final winner, and a one-time World Championships silver medalist.
According to World Athletics, the nominations highlighted several standout performances, including those from the recent event held in Paris, France.
‘’In what has been another memorable year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, one-day meeting circuits, and other events around the world,’’ World Athletics shared.
Chebet and Kipyegon will have to fight it to the final spot with Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA, Marileidy Paulino, from the Dominican Republic, and Gabby Thomas from the USA.
Wanyonyi, on the other hand, will face Rai Benjamin from the USA, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, from Norway, Noah Lyles, from the USA, Letsile Tebogo, from Botswana, and Grant Holloway from the USA.
The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is currently open on World Athletics social media platforms and will close on 27 October.
Kipyegon and Chebet will need to compete against four other nominees in the women's category, while Wanyonyi will face five others in the men's category. Ultimately, only two finalists will be selected from each group.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen congratulated the nominees, asking Kenyans to vote for them.
''Congratulations, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, on your nomination for the Female Track Athlete of the Year award, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi for the Male Track Athlete of the Year award, by World Athletics. You have had a great season this year with the highlight of your achievements being the gold medals you won for our great nation at the 2024 Paris Olympics, world records and season’s best times,'' stated Murkomen.
