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FILE PHOTO: Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, with a Ugandan national flag on his shoulders, poses for photos next to the stopwatch display after breaking the world record in the men’s 5,000m event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. / VCG image
FILE PHOTO: Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, with a Ugandan national flag on his shoulders, poses for photos next to the stopwatch display after breaking the world record in the men’s 5,000-meter event during the Diamond League Athletics Meeting at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco. / VCG Image
A total of eight African athletes were nominated for the World Athlete of the Year awards, announced the world governing body for athletics, World Athletics.
Ugandan duo Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo and Kenyan Timothy Cheruiyot were nominated in the category of Men’s World Athlete of the Year.
The Kenyan trio of Peres Jepchirchir, Faith Kipyegon and Hellen Obiri and Ethiopians Letesenbet Gidey and Ababel Yeshaneh were nominated in the category of World Female Athlete of the Year.
All eight athletes delivered outstanding performances in 2020 ranging from breaking world records, running world-leading times, going undefeated and winning titles.
All eight are among a list of 20 nominees for the award, with ten in each category. They were selected by an international panel of athletic experts, made up of representatives from the six continental areas of World Athletics.
A three-way voting process will determine the finalists with World Athletics, World Athletics Family and the participating public.
The World Athletics Council vote will count for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family votes and the public votes will each count for 25 percent of the final result. Voting for World Athletes of the Year ends at midnight on November 15.
After the voting process is complete, World Athletics will announce five men and five women finalists.
The 2020 World Athletics Awards are scheduled to take place virtually on December 5.
(With contributions from agencies)
