Kenyan sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala is set to battle the likes of Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon for Ksh4.5 million in Nairobi in April, as the trio is among a contingent of athletes nominated for a prestigious award.
The trio is among several big African names nominated for the coveted Africa Golden Awards Best Athlete of the Year 2025 title, with the ceremony set to take place on April 27.
Omanyala and Kipchoge headline a star-studded list of nominees, which also includes Chicago Marathon bronze medallist Amos Kipruto and former 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir.
The nominations are primarily based on outstanding performances in the 2024 season, which saw some exemplary performances on the global stage.
Besides Kipchoge and Omanyala, Kenya's sweetheart in the 1500m, Faith Kipyegon, is also among the nominees. Notably, Kipyegon is a strong contender, as her 2024 season was marked by extraordinary performances on the track, including a victory at the Paris Olympics, where she secured her third consecutive gold in the women's 1500m.
In addition, she secured a silver medal in the women's 5000m at the same Olympics, which was initially disqualified but overturned after appeal.
For Kipchoge, despite a challenging 2024 season, which saw him finish 10th at the Tokyo Marathon and record his first-ever Did Not Finish (DNF) at the Paris Olympics, he remains a solid contender for the award based on his legendary status and contribution to the track over the years.
On the other hand, Omanyala had a mixed season in 2024, finishing fourth at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow before advancing to the Olympic semi-finals, where he placed eighth.
Omanyala's biggest competition will arguably be South African sprinter Akani Simbine, who set a new South African record at the Paris 2024 Olympics by finishing fourth in the men's 100m final. He also won the men's 100m, clocking 10.01 in the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League
Another sprinter, Letsile Tebogo, will also give the Kenyan contingent tough competition, especially because he achieved a unique milestone by clinching Botswana's first-ever Olympic gold by winning the men's 200m in an African record time of 19.46 seconds.
The winner will be determined by a vote, which began on March 9 and will run until April 21, with the awards gala set to take place on Saturday, May 3, in Nairobi.
The overall most-voted nominee will pocket a whopping Ksh4.5 million (USD 35,000), while the second most-voted nominee will bag Ksh2.5 million. The third most-voted nominee will be feted with Ksh1.2 million (USD 10,000).
