Kenya’s track and field fraternity is reeling from shock after middle-distance icon Faith Kipyegon and long-distance star Beatrice Chebet were left out of the 2025 World Athletics Awards nominees’ list, despite their record-breaking seasons.
World Athletics on Tuesday, November 4, unveiled 12 finalists for the prestigious annual awards, featuring three Kenyan athletes — marathon world record-holder Peres Jepchirchir, 10,000-metre champion Sebastian Sawe, and 800-metre world titleholder Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
Jepchirchir was named among the six finalists for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year award after an outstanding season that saw her clinch gold at the World Championships in Tokyo and finish third at the London Marathon.
Sawe earned his nomination following dominant victories in both the London and Berlin marathons, while Wanyonyi’s stellar form saw him crowned world and Diamond League champion in the 800 metres.
However, the omission of Kipyegon and Chebet — arguably Kenya’s most decorated female athletes of the year — has drawn sharp reactions from fans and athletics pundits.
Kipyegon, who set a new world record in the 1500 metres, won gold in the same event and silver in the 5000 metres, and was widely expected to be a frontrunner for the award.
Chebet, on the other hand, delivered an equally impressive campaign, capturing double gold in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres while also smashing the world record in the 5000 metres.
Athletics Kenya officials and sports analysts expressed surprise at the decision, describing it as “inexplicable” given both athletes’ dominance and global impact throughout the season.
“Faith and Beatrice redefined excellence this year — these exclusions will definitely raise questions about the selection criteria,” said a senior athletics commentator in Nairobi.
Among the women’s nominees are Dutch hurdler Femke Bol, American stars Tara Davis and Sydney Levrone, and Spanish race walker Maria Pérez.
The men’s list includes Sweden’s pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis, Italy’s Mattia Furlani, American sprinter Noah Lyles, and Tanzania’s Alphonse Simbu.
World Athletics said the 12 finalists were selected through a weighted voting process that considered input from the athletics community, media representatives, and fans worldwide.
The World Athletics Awards 2025 will be held on November 30 in Monaco, France — an evening dedicated to celebrating the world’s top performers across track and field.
Despite the snub, Kipyegon and Chebet remain among Kenya’s most accomplished athletes of the modern era, their performances continuing to inspire the next generation of runners at home and beyond.