Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has congratulated the current world record holder for the 1,500m and mile Faith Kipyegon, her 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet and 800m race champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi after they were nominated for prestigious global awards.

Kipyegon, Chebet, and Wanyonyi have been nominated by World Athletics to be considered for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, respectively. Voting is expected to close on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

Female Track Athlete of the Year nominee ✨

Repost to vote for Faith Kipyegon 🇰🇪 in the #AthleticsAwards.

Voting closes on Sunday 27 October at 11:59 PM CEST. pic.twitter.com/0GsZRWEH0P

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 21, 2024

Murkomen on achievements

Murkomen, in a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, October 21, 2024, said the three have had a great season this year. The highlights of their achievements are the gold medals they won for Kenya at the 2024 Paris Olympics, world records and season’s best times.

The CS further urged Kenyans to vote for the trio before the deadline.

“Congratulations, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, on your nomination for the Female Track Athlete of the Year award, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi for the Male Track Athlete of the Year award, by World Athletics. You have had a great season this year with the highlight of your achievements being the gold medals you won for our great nation at the 2024 Paris Olympics, world records and season’s best times. Let’s vote for them!” Murkomen stated.

Congratulations, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, on your nomination for the Female Track Athlete of the Year award, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi for the Male Track Athlete of the Year award, by @WorldAthletics.

You have had a great season this year with the highlight of your… pic.twitter.com/7hR3X8kGtB

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) October 21, 2024

Voting process

Kipyegon recently broke the Olympic World record, winning the 2024 games with an impressive time of 3:51.29 while Chebet holds the current 10,000m world record.

Chebet and Kipyegon have been nominated in the same category, and will now have to fight it to the final spot with Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA, Marileidy Paulino, from the Dominican Republic and Gabby Thomas from the USA. 

Who is your Female Track Athlete of the Year?

Voting closes on Sunday 27 October at 11:59 PM CEST.

🔗 https://t.co/7VFFnbSYls #AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/CtjY45MN4O

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 21, 2024

Wanyonyi, on the other hand, will face Rai Benjamin from the USA, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, from Norway, Noah Lyles, from the USA, Letsile Tebogo, from Botswana, and Grant Holloway from the USA.

Who is your Male Track Athlete of the Year?

Voting closes on Sunday 27 October at 11:59 PM CEST.

🔗 https://t.co/7VFFnbSYls#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/C6ISdFbwZr

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) October 21, 2024

The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is currently open on World Athletics social media platforms, with one expected to repost a post about his/her favourite athlete for him or her to vote.