Kelvin Kiptum nominated for World Athlete of the Year award
Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon professional men's division and setting a world record marathon time of 2:00.35 on October 08, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
What you need to know:
- Kiptum’s sterling performance in the 42 kilometre race this year has seen him nominated for the first time ever
- The Valencia Marathon 2022 winner bagged the London Marathon title in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds in April this year to become the second fastest man over the distance after compatriot Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:09)
- As for Kiptum, he will faces a star-studded list that includes world champions Neeraj Chopra (India, javelin), Ryan Crouser (USA, shot put), Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco, 3,000m steeplechase), Mondo Duplantis (Sweden, pole vault), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway, 1,500m/mile/5,000m), Pierce Lepage (Canada, decathlon), Noah Lyles (USA, 100m and 200m), Alvaro Martin (Spain, race walk), Miltiadis Tentoglou (Greece, long jump) and Karsten Warholm (Norway, 400m hurdles/400m)
World marathon new record holder Kelvin Kiptum will get a shot at the coveted World Athlete of the Year (male) award for the year 2023, but there is no place for his predecessor Eliud Kipchoge in the 11-man list announced by World Athletics on Thursday.
Kiptum’s sterling performance in the 42-kilometre race this year has seen him nominated for the first time.
The 2022 Valencia Marathon winner bagged the London Marathon title in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds in April to become the second fastest man over the distance after compatriot Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:09).
Kiptum, 23, obliterated the world record held by two-time Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge after clocking 2:00:35 on his debut in the US during the Chicago Marathon last weekend to become the first man to finish the 42km distance under two hours and one minute.
Kiptum shot into the limelight last year after winning the Valencia Marathon in Spain in 2:01:53, becoming the third fastest man over the distance after Kipchoge (2:01:09) and Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele (2:01:41).
He broke the course record in Valencia of 2:03:00 set by Kenyan Evans Chebet in 2020. His time in Valencia was the fastest marathon debut in history.
Kiptum would improve his lifetime best by clinching the London Marathon title in 2:01:25, breaking the course record of 2:02:37 set by Kipchoge in 2019.
After the two victories, Kipchoge tipped Kiptum to break his world record. It came to pass in Chicago, where he also shattered the course record of 2:03:45 set by another Kenyan, former world record holder Dennis Kimetto, in 2013.
Only two men from Kenya have emerged as World Athlete of the Year: David Rudisha in 2010 and Kipchoge in 2018 and 2019.
Kipchoge was nominated for 2022 after winning the Tokyo and Berlin Marathon and 2021 for bagging his second Olympic Marathon title, so this will be the first time he has missed out on the list in three years.
As for Kiptum, he will face a star-studded list that includes world champions Neeraj Chopra (India, javelin), Ryan Crouser (USA, shot put), Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco, 3,000m steeplechase), Mondo Duplantis (Sweden, pole vault), Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway, 1,500m/mile/5,000m), Pierce Lepage (Canada, decathlon), Noah Lyles (USA, 100m and 200m), Alvaro Martin (Spain, race walk), Miltiadis Tentoglou (Greece, long jump) and Karsten Warholm (Norway, 400m hurdles/400m).
Three-time world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon is the only Kenyan on the 11-woman list announced on Wednesday.
Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on October 28. The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50 per cent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes, and public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.
After the voting process, where fans also vote on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics on November 13-14.
World Athletics will announce the winners on December 11 on its social media platforms.
Full list
Neeraj Chopra, IND, javelin
· World champion
· Asian Games champion
Ryan Crouser, USA, shot put
· World champion
· World record
Mondo Duplantis, SWE, pole vault
· World champion
· Diamond League champion with world record
Soufiane El Bakkali, MAR, 3000m steeplechase
· World champion
· Undefeated in six finals
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, NOR, 1500m/mile/5000m
· World 5000m champion and 1500m silver medallist
· European records for 1500m, mile and 3000m
Kelvin Kiptum, KEN, marathon
· London and Chicago Marathon winner
· Marathon world record breaker
Pierce LePage, CAN, decathlon
· World champion
· World leader
Noah Lyles, USA, 100m/200m
· World 100m and 200m champion
· World leader and undefeated in six finals at 200m
Alvaro Martin, ESP, race walk
· World 20km and 35km race walk champion
· World leader 20km race walk
Miltiadis Tentoglou, long jump
· World champion
· European indoor champion
Karsten Warholm, NOR, 400m hurdles/400m
· World 400m hurdles champion
· European indoor 400m champion
