Faith Kipyegon part of Kenyan trio nominated for Track Athlete of the Year Awards

Three Kenyans have been nominated for the 2025 Track Athlete of the Year awards, following their standout performances achieved during another memorable year for the sport, which peaked with the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, back in September.

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The trio, who were on Monday, 13 October, named alongside seven other athletes from around the world, include: Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Emmanuel Wanyonyi.

The three join a star-studded list of nominees, who have been split up into two categories: Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, with each consisting of five names.

Kipyegon, who capped her successful season with another world title in the 1500m, headlines the women’s category, which, in addition to having her close friend Chebet, also includes sprinter Melissa Jefferson Wooden, USA’s Sydney McLaughlin, and 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol.

800m world champion Wanyonyi, on the other hand, headlines the list of male nominees that also includes the American trio of Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, and Cordell Tinch, alongside World 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier of France.

As per World Athletics, the nominations, which will be followed up by others for Field Athlete of the Year and for Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year on Monday, 20 and Monday, 27 October, respectively, reflect standout performances over the year.

Kipyegon in July this year smashed her previous 1500m world record with a time of 3:48.68, set at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, before winning two medals in Tokyo - a World 1500m gold- and a silver in the lesser-tried 5000m.

Last weekend, the 31-year-old won her second Athlos crown in style as she ran the fastest mile ever recorded on US soil.

Kipyegon delighted after battling a cough to claim Ksh7.7 million in Athlos victory

Chebet, on the other hand, extended her brilliant form from Paris a year ago with a commendable show in Japan, where she finally laid her hands on a world title, winning the 10,000m gold, before repeating the same feat in the 5000m.

Just like her teammate Kipyegon, Chebet also broke the women's 5000m record in Oregon, as she ran a time of 13:58.06.

Wanyonyi, off a brilliant gold in the Paris Olympics, also stamped his authority over the two-lap race this year - winning his third Diamond League title, before outsprinting his two rivals - Djamel Sedjati and Marco Arop to win his first World title.

Also in 2025, Wanyonyi, just 21, ran four of the top six times that year.

The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is now open on World Athletics social media platforms – on Facebook, Instagram and X- and it is expected to close on Sunday, 19 October, before a similar vote is carried out for the overall winners later in the year.