Kenya’s Olympic champions Beatrice Chebet, Faith Kipyegon, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi have been nominated for the 2024 Men and Women’s World Athletics Track Athlete of the Year awards.
Chebet, who claimed a double in 10,000metres and 5,000m at the Paris Olympic Games, and Kipyegon, who made history as the first woman to win Olympic 1,500m title thrice, are among six nominees for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.
Chebet and Kipyegon set new world records in 10,000m and 1,500m respectively during the season.
The Kenyan duo face among others Olympic 100m and wild indoor champion, Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, and American Sydney McLaughlin, the Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion.
Also in contention are Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic and Diamond League 400m champion from the Dominican Republic, and American Gabby Thomas, the Olympic 200m and 4x100m champion.
Wanyonyi ensured Kenya retained the Olympic 800m title for the fifth successive time, besides retaining his Diamond League 800m Trophy.
The 20-year-old is up against Rai Benjamin, the American Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion, and his compatriot Noah Lyles, who claimed gold in 100m and bronze in 200m at the Paris Olympics. Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana is the other African nominated.
Also eying the same accolades are Olympic 110m hurdles champion Grant Holloway, who is also the World Indoor 60m hurdles champion, and world record, and Norwegian Olympic 5,000m champion, Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is now open on World Athletics social media platforms and will close on October 27 with nominees for the Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year awards being announced on October 28.
The athletes were nominated after their standout performances at the Paris Olympic Games, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and the Diamond League among other one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.
Kipyegon and Lyles were named women's and men's 2023 World Athletes of the Year, while Wanyonyi and Faith Cherotich claimed the Rising Stars awards.
The late Kelvin Kiptum won men’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year.The nominees for 2024 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia
