Kenyan athletes dominate at World Athletics Awards 2023

FILE PHOTO: Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's 5000m Final - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 26, 2023 Kenya's Faith Kipyegon celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's 5000m final REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo

Source: X00177

Kenyan long-distance runners displayed their dominance as one of the best in the world at the World Athletics Awards 2023.

Kenyans, Kelvin Kiptum and Faith Kipyegon were named as two of the World Athletes of the Year while Kenyan teenagers and World U20 gold medallists Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi were named as the rising stars of 2023 on December 20.

24-year-old Kiptum achieved a world record by becoming the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon by running 2:00:35 in a marathon held in Chicago in October.

The Kenyan now has three of the seven fastest times in history only a year after making his marathon debut.

The Kenyan is one of the fastest marathon runners to have lived.

Kipyegon set world records at three distances during a season, including the 1500m, 5000m, and 1500m.

The 29-year-old improved the 1500m world record to 3:49.11 in Florence, improved the 5000m world record to 14:05.20 in Paris after only having raced just twice in that event, and achieved her third world record by beating the previous mile mark by five seconds when she run 4:07.64 in Monaco. She also won her third senior world 1500m title and first world 5000m crown.

The Kenyan multiple world record holder with her World Athlete of the Year award.

Ethiopian long-distance runner, Tigist Assefa was also named one of the World Athletes of the Year. The 27-year-old broke the female world record for a marathon by two minutes and 14 seconds in September.

The Ethiopian was recognised for her achivements in 2023.

Edward Sakyi