Kenyan athletics continues to shine on the global stage as Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi have been nominated for the 2025 World Athletics Track Athlete of the Year awards. The trio’s inclusion highlights Kenya’s dominance and consistency in world-class track and field events following a memorable season capped by the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
World Athletics unveiled the list of nominees featuring five exceptional athletes in both the men’s and women’s categories. The selection recognizes outstanding achievements across disciplines, from middle-distance to sprints and hurdles. Fans worldwide will now take part in an online voting process to determine the two finalists in each category before the overall winners are announced later this year.
Faith Kipyegon, the reigning queen of middle-distance running, earned her nomination after another extraordinary season. She successfully defended her World 1500m title and added a silver medal in the 5000m. Her year was further defined by a world record-breaking performance in the 1500m, reaffirming her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history.
Beatrice Chebet also earned recognition following her exceptional double triumph at the World Championships, where she clinched gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m events. The distance star capped her season by setting a new world record in the 5000m, underlining her dominance and marking a milestone in Kenyan athletics.
In the men’s category, Emmanuel Wanyonyi has continued his meteoric rise with a nomination after a stellar season in the 800m. The young Kenyan sensation won both the World Championship and the Diamond League titles, recording four of the six fastest times globally in the event. His performances have cemented his position as one of the most promising talents in global athletics.
Other standout nominees include Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Femke Bol, Rai Benjamin, Cordell Tinch, and Jimmy Gressier, all recognized for their record-breaking and championship-winning seasons.
Public voting for the Track Athlete of the Year awards will close on October 19, with further nominations for Field and Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year to follow. The overall World Athlete of the Year will be selected from the winners of these categories and crowned during the annual World Athletics Awards gala.
