Three Kenyan athletes nominated for the Track and Field for the Men and Women Track Athlete of the Year Award slated for December 1, 2024 in Monaco, have missed out after the release of the final contestants by the World Athletics.
Beatrice Chebet who had been taunted as the favorite among the selected first six athletes as she had an explosive year full of amazing runs but to the amusement of track and field lovers she has not made it to the finals.
The 24 year-old who is the world record holder in the 10,000m and the gold medalist at the Paris Olympics in the 5000m and 10,000m races, went to history books when she became the third woman to win both events at the same Olympic Games.
The Kericho born athlete also defended her World Cross title in Belgrade and also won the Diamond League 5000m title.
On the other hand Faith Kipyegon is the current world record holder for the 1500m and mile, and the former world record holder for the 5000m. The 30 year-old is the only three-time Olympic champion in the 1500m race, having won a gold medal each in Rio Olympics, Tokyo Olympics and Paris Olympics.
Olympic 800m champion, Emmanuel Wanyonyi was the only male Kenyan athlete nominated for the Male Track and Field Award but he also never went to the final list.
The 20 year-old is tied for second place with former Kenyan now Danish citizen, Wilson Kipketer in the all-time 800 meter list. Wanyonyi’s falls behind the record holder and compatriot David Rudisha, who holds the world record0f 1:40.91. Wanyonyi also briefly held the world record in the road mile, with a time of 3:54.56, from April 2024 to September 2024.
Kenya have their hopes placed on the current world marathon record holder Ruth Chepngetich, with a time of 2:09.56 set at this year’s Chicago Marathon. Chepng’etich is the 2019 world champion in the marathon, and is a three time winner of the Chicago Marathon, having won in 2021, 2022 and 2024, where she set the world record. The 30 year-old is the first woman to break the 2:11 and 2:10 barriers in the marathon and also holds the sixth-fastest mark of all time for the half marathon, at 1:0 4.02.