Kipyegon, Chebet, Wanyonyi, and Mugunde lead SOYA nominees

Three-time Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon, and her double Olympic champion, Beatrice Chebet, will compete for this year's Sportsperson of the Year Award (SOYA).

Both are nominated in the Sportswoman of the Year category, alongside world marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich, Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, and Olympic 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Faith Cherotich.

Kipyegon made history by winning three consecutive Olympic titles in the 1500m, and clocked 3:51.29 at the Paris Games.

On her part, Chebet set two world records and claimed gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2024 Olympics, to crown her most successful season to date.

Chebet clinched gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the 2024 Summer Olympics, making history as the third woman ever to win both events at the same Games.

Chebet, known as the ‘smiling assassin,’ not only defended her World Cross Country Championships title in Belgrade, Serbia, with a time of 31:05, but also set a world record in the women’s 10,000m at the Prefontaine Diamond League in Oregon, USA, on May 25.

She further shattered the 5km world record in December at the Cursa dels Nassos, finishing in 13:54.

Also featured on the elite list is Chepng’etich, who made history as the first female marathoner to run a sub-2:10, clocking a world record time of 2:09:56 at the Chicago Marathon in October.

Meanwhile, Obiri successfully defended her Boston Marathon title in April with a time of 2:22:37, before securing a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in 2:23:10.

In the Sportsman of the Year category, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Ronald Kwemoi, and Benson Kipruto will compete against Nairobi Thunders’ Albert Odero and boxer Boniface Mugunde.

Mugunde secured Kenya’s first African boxing title since 2017, in the light middleweight category at the Africa Boxing Confederation Championships in Kinshasa, DRC.

He will compete against Odero, who was named KBF league MVP.

Athlete Wanyonyi set a world road mile record in 3:54.56 and won Olympic gold in Paris, while Kwemoi became the first Kenyan since Eliud Kipchoge in 2008 to medal in the 5000m at the Olympics.

Kipruto posted the second-fastest marathon time ever, winning the Tokyo Marathon and securing bronze in Paris.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 16 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

With the theme ‘Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports,’ the gala will honor top sports personalities across 11 categories.

Sportswoman of the Year:

Faith Cherotich

Ruth Chepng’etich

Beatrice Chebet

Hellen Obiri

Faith Kipyegon

Sportsman of the year:

Albert Odero

Benson Kipruto

Emmanuel Wanyonyi

Ronald Kwemoi

Coach of the Year:

Beldin Ademba

Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua

Salim Babu

Mildred Cheche

Sportswoman with disability:

Caroline Wanjira

Mercy Anjenjo

Michelle Chepngetich

Valery Olesia

Sportsman with disability:

Kennedy Ogada

Shadrack Kipyegon Mutai

Dedan Ireri Maina

Dennis Cheruiyot

Sports Team, Women:

Kenya Pipeline

Malkia Strikers

Junior Starlets

Police Bullets

Sports Team, Men:

Nairobi Thunder

Rising Stars

Shujaa

Kabras Sugar

School Team, Boys:

Friends School Kamusinga

Musingu Boys High School

Vihiga High School

St Charles Lwanga

School Team, Girls:

St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale

Butere Girls

Tigoi Girls