Marathon champions Beatrice Chepkoech and Hellen Obiri have failed to make it to the final list for IAAF athlete of the year awards. Record holder Brigid Kosgei made it to the final list.
Obiri came second in world championship crown in Doha in october adding to the World cross country title she won in Denmark. She also clocked 14:20 in London setting the fastest time in the world.
Chepkoech bagged the 3,000m steeplechase Diamond League Trophy and also won seven of her eight steeplechase races this year. She also has the world crown in a championship record of 8:57.84 in Doha.
Brigid retained her spot in the top five in the IAAF shortlist after fruitful season that included last month’s Chicago Marathon, posting 2:14:04 after winning London Marathon title in April. This is on top of running world leading times of 1:05:28 and 1:04:28 in the half marathon.
She is now facing a serious test of being the first Kenyan to win the coveted award that has never been won by a Kenyan. She will be up against Jamaica’s Shely Fraser who is holding the 100m and 400 titles.
Two time world champion Hassaan Sifan makes the final cut after a sensational year on the track. She won the 1,500m and 10,000m and Diamond League 1,500m and 5,000m titles. This is after breaking the world mile record with a 4:12.33 clocking in France.
America’s hurdles champion Delilah Muhamad is posing a serious threat after smashing the world record in the one lap two times this season.
Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas is also in the final list of five athletes after winning the world triple jump title with a leap of 15.37m.
Rojas jumped a world-leading 15.41m and moved to second position in the list of world all-time winners as well as winning nine of her 12 competitions.
The final list was determined through a three way voting process.The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family cast their votes by email. Fans voted online through the IAAF social media platforms.
Male and female athletes of the year 2019 will be announced live on stage at awards scheduled for November 23rd in Monaco, France.
