2023 World Athletics Awards ;Faith Kipyegon, Kiptum leads Kenya to major honors in Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo, 

Monday, 11 December, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

Four Kenyan Athletes were awarded during The World Athlete of the Year awards handed out at the World Athletics Gala 2023 in Monte Carlo on Monday (11 December).

The award was inaugurated in 1988 and goes to the best male and female track and field athletes of that calendar year.

During the awards majors, Six athletes – Tigist Assefa, Mondo Duplantis, Kelvin Kiptum, Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles and Yulimar Rojas were feted as World Athletes of the Year for 2023.

Faith Kipyegon led Kenya at the Fore front, she set world records at an incredible three distances during a season in which she also achieved a golden double at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23.

First, the 29-year-old Kenyan improved the world 1500m record to 3:49.11 in Florence, taking almost a full second off the previous mark. Just one week later, and despite having raced the 5000m just twice before, she improved the world record for that event, too, clocking 14:05.20 in Paris to shave 1.42 seconds from the old record. Her third world record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64. Then, in Budapest, she won her third senior world 1500m title and her first world 5000m crown.

Meanwhile, Kiptum achieved his world record in a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, running 2:00:35 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October. Becoming the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, the 24-year-old Kenyan won the race by almost three and a half minutes and took 34 seconds off Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record.

Just one year on from his marathon debut, Kiptum now has three of the seven fastest times in history to his name having also won the TCS London Marathon in April in 2:01:25.

Kenyan teenage sensations Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Faith Cherotich bagged the men and women raising stars of the year. 

Both had won the World U20 gold to make their mark on the senior stage in 2023.

The Kenyan teenagers both won medals at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, Cherotich claiming bronze in the 3000m steeplechase and Wanyonyi securing silver in the 800m.

Cherotich, who won world U20 bronze in 2021 and gold in 2022, also moved to second on the world U20 all-time list with 8:59.65 to finish third in the Diamond League Final in Eugene, while she finished fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships.

As well as his world medal win, 2021 world U20 gold medallist Wanyonyi became Diamond League champion in 2023, claiming the trophy in a PB of 1:42.80. He also won Diamond League races in Rabat, Paris and Xiamen and formed part of Kenya’s victorious world cross country mixed relay team.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe congratulate all the athletes for their remarkable achievements. 

“The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion of the World Athletics Awards to recognise the accomplishments by these six athletes across a range of disciplines,” said Sebastian Coe. 

“Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records between them in 2023, as well as a host of world titles and major wins, so it is only fitting that they be recognised as the athletes of the year in their respective fields.

“I congratulate our award winners and all of the athletes nominated for these honours.” He added.

President William Ruto led Kenyan's in sending warm congratulations messages to the four Athletes. 

"A fitting crown for the Queen of the track, a worthy tribute to one the hardest working athletes alive today, the embodiment of excellence, versatility, fortitude, humility and purpose; an incredible human being, a true champion and a once in a lifetime talent. Congratulations Faith Kipyegon, the World Athlete of the Year."President William Ruto said on a statement on X. 

" Congratulations to the very deserving Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Faith Cherotich, the winners of the Rising Star in male and female track events - your promise is undeniable and we look forward to many victories in the seasons ahead. Soaring tribute to Kelvin Kiptum, world marathon record holder and now World Athlete of the Year for out of stadia events." The President added in another statement. 

The awards standings 

Women’s track: Faith Kipyegon, KEN, 1500m/mile/5000m

Women’s field: Yulimar Rojas, VEN, triple jump

Women’s out of stadia: Tigist Assefa, ETH, marathon

Men’s track: Noah Lyles, USA, 100m/200m

Men’s field: Mondo Duplantis, SWE, pole vault

Men’s out of stadia: Kelvin Kiptum, KEN, marathon