Jepchirchir on course for World Athletics award

World Half marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir is among the five finalists for the Female World Athlete of the Year award 2020.

In the final shortlist released by World Athletics, Jepchirchir will battle for the coveted award alongside world champion 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and world 5000m record holder Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia.

Joining the trio are world triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela and Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica.

Jepchirchir recently has been a revelation in 2020 as she reclaimed the World Half Marathon title last month in a women-only world record of 1:05:16 lowering her own record by 18 seconds.

The 27-year-old had first smashed the world record at the Prague Half Marathon in September when she ran 1:05:34 shattering the previous record of 1:06:11 held by Ethiopia’s Gudeta.

Kenya’s world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri and Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon who were in the initial shortlist of 10 athletes did not make the cut.

Similarly, the only Kenyan athlete in the initial men’s shortlist world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot did not make the final shortlist.

Athletics Kenya was also nominated for the Member Federation Award and will thus battle for the gong with other five federations.

The winners will be announced during the annual World Athletics gala that will be held virtually on December 5.

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Peres Jepchirchir World Athletics

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