The 800m defending world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will battle Noah Nyles of the United States of America for the prestigious Male Track of the Year Award, with the winner to be announced on November 30, 2025.

The 21-year-old has been having a fantastic year in 2025. On 5 April, at the 2025 Grand Slam Track Kingston meeting, while competing as a challenger, Wanyonyi won the 1500 metres ahead of the 2024 Olympic medallists Cole Hocker, Josh Kerr, and Yared Nuguse, in a time of 3:35.18.

The next day, the Kenyan sensation finished second in the 800 metres, behind Marco Arop. With 12 points earned in the 1500 metres and 8 points earned in the 800 metres, he was crowned the men’s short distance Slam Champion of the meeting.

On June 15, 2025, Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran a world lead of 1:41.95 in the Stockholm Diamond League. He went on to improve his world lead to 1:41.44 at Herculis on July 11. On August 28, he won the Zürich Diamond League Final in 1:42.37, before winning the 800 metres at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in a championship record time of 1:41.86. On September 20, 2025.

Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles, returning from injury, won the 200m at the 2025 Monaco Diamond League in 19.88s, beating Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo.

At the 2025 World Athletics Championships, Lyles won the bronze medal in the 100 m with a time of 9.89s.

He then clapped back in the 200 m, winning his 4th consecutive title with a time of 19.52 s. Lyles then proceeded to anchor the US 4 × 100 m relay team to victory with a time of 37.29s.

The 12 Athletes of the Year finalists have been confirmed, as the countdown to the World Athletics Awards 2025 continues.

The top two athletes in each category – track, field and out of stadium – have been chosen from the first round of voting, which comprised votes from the World Athletics Council, World Athletics Family and a public vote on social media. One of the two athletes will take the crown in their category.

A final round of voting – cast by fans of the sport – will now take place between 4 and 9 November to help select the overall women’s and men’s World Athlete of the Year.

Finalists

Women’s track athlete of the year

Femke Bol (NED) – world 400m hurdles champion

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) – world 400m champion

Men’s track athlete of the year

Noah Lyles (USA) – world 200m champion

Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) – world 800m champion

Women’s field athlete of the year

Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) – world long jump champion

Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) – world high jump champion

Men’s field athlete of the year

Mondo Duplantis (SWE) – world pole vault champion

Mattia Furlani (ITA) – world long jump champion

Women’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year

Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) – world marathon champion

Maria Perez (ESP) – world 20km and 35km race walk champion

Men’s out-of-stadium athlete of the year

Sabastian Sawe (KEN) – London Marathon and Berlin Marathon champion

Alphonce Simbu (TAN) – world marathon champion

The Athletes of the Year in each category, as well as the overall winners, will be revealed at a ceremony in Monaco on Sunday, November 30, 2025, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2025.