The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is now open on World Athletics social media platforms.
World Athletics on Monday, October 21 announced that it nominated three Kenyan gold medalists for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Men’s Track Athlete of the Year.
The trio include fan favourite Faith Kipyegon, who during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games wrote history by becoming the first Kenyan to win three gold medals at the Olympics and during the games, she broke the Olympic record by winning the women’s 1500m at a time of 3:51.29.
Also included in the list is Kenya’s Olympic and World 10,000m champion Beatrice Chebet who has had a great 2024, bagging two individual gold medals in the 2024 games and breaking the women’s 10,000m world record, setting a time of 28:54.14.
The 24-year-old is also a two-time winner of the Diamond League marathon as well as a World Championships silver medalist.
Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet nominated as Track Athlete of the Year in the women’s category. /WORLD ATHLETICS
Another Kenyan nominated for the awards is Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the 800m race Olympic champion who also broke a World Road Mile record.
For Wanyonyi, the recent key participation that will likely make it for him include the recent August Olympic games where he won a gold medal in the 800m race, a two-time Diamond League Final winner, and a one-time World Championships silver medalist.
“As part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, World Athletics is pleased to confirm the nominees for Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Men’s Track Athlete of the Year. Given the higher number of disciplines on the track, there are six nominees for this category, though – as with the other categories – there will be just two finalists,” stated World Athletics in a statement.
“In what has been another memorable year for the sport, the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Athletics Indoor Championships, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.”
Chebet and Kipyegon will have to face off against Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA, Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic, and Gabby Thomas from the USA.
Wanyonyi, on the other hand, will be up against Rai Benjamin from the USA, Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway, Noah Lyles from the USA, Letsile Tebogo from Botswana, and Grant Holloway from the USA.
The nominees for 2024 Women’s Track Athlete of the Year are (in alphabetical order):
Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia
• Olympic 100m champion
• World indoor 60m champion
Beatrice Chebet, Kenya
• Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion
• World 10,000m record
Faith Kipyegon, Kenya
• Olympic 1500m champion
• World 1500m record
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, USA
• Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion
• World 400m hurdles record
Marileidy Paulino, Dominican Republic
• Olympic 400m champion
• Diamond League 400m champion
Gabby Thomas, USA
• Olympic 200m champion
• Olympic 4x100m and 4x400m champion
The nominees for 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year are (in alphabetical order):
Rai Benjamin, USA
• Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion
• World 400m hurdles leader
Grant Holloway, USA
• Olympic 110m hurdles champion
• World indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Norway
• Olympic 5000m champion
• World 3000m record
Noah Lyles, USA
• Olympic 100m champion
• Olympic 200m bronze
Letsile Tebogo, Botswana
• Olympic 200m champion
• World 200m leader
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Kenya
• Olympic 800m champion
• Diamond League 800m champion
How To Vote
As was the case in last year’s awards, fans will vote online by liking and reposting the posts of preferred athletes nominated for the awards shared on its official social media platforms.
Individual graphics for each nominee have since been posted on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube; a ‘like’ on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube or a retweet on X will count as one vote
The vote to determine the Track Athlete of the Year finalists is now open on World Athletics social media platforms. It will close on October 27, 2024, with only two finalists to be selected from each group.
