Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet who prevailed in recent Paris Olympics have been nominated for World Athletics’ track athlete of the year awards.
Wanyonyi, 21, the Olympics 800m champion, is up for the male track athlete of the year award where he faces stiff competition from Olympics 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin of United States, Olympics 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway also from USA, Olympics 5000m champion and 3000m world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and 100m champion Noah Lyles.
At the Paris Olympics, he won the coveted title at the senior level, clocking 1:41.19 to win the men’s 800m.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
In the women’s category Kipyegon and Chebet are contesting the awards against a star-studded list that comprises Olympics 100m champion Julian Alfred of St Lucia, United States star; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Olympics 400m hurdles champion and world record holder) and Gabby Thomas (Olympics 200m champion) as well as Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino (Olympics 400m champion).
For Kipyegon, 30, this is the second year running she is contesting for the awards.
Last year she won the World Athlete of the Year for women’s track.
Faith Kipyegon.
In Paris, she won the 1500M Olympics Gold for the third consecutive year.
Chebet, 25, who also made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the country’s first-ever title for the women’s 10,000m is also in the list.
She also bagged gold in the women’s 5000m, where she clocked 14:28.56 to outsprint Kipyegon to the finish line.
Beatrice Chebet after winning in Paris.
