Eight (8) Africans including 5 women and 3 men registered on the list of 10 nominees for the Male World Athlete of the Year and the Female World Athlete of the Year awards who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.
The nominations reflect the remarkable range of exceptional performances that the sport has witnessed this year, despite the challenges that the global Covid-19 pandemic presented.
WOMEN: Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia, set a world record of 14:06.62 over 5000m, was second in the Monaco Diamond League over 5000m;
Ababel Yeshaneh, Ethiopia, broke the world record in the half marathon with 1:04:31, finished fifth at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships
Peres Jepchirchir, Kenya, won the world half marathon title, twice broke the world half marathon record for a women-only race (1:05:34 and 1:05:16)
Faith Kipyegon, Kenya, undefeated in five races over all distances, ran world-leading performances over 800m (1:57.68) and 1000m (2:29.15)
Hellen Obiri, Kenya, undefeated in three races over 3000m and 5000m, ran a world-leading 8:22.54 over 3000m
MEN: Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda, broke world records at 5000m (12:35.36), 10,000m (26:11.00) and 5km on the roads (12:51), was fourth at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships on his debut over the distance
Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda, won world half marathon title in a championship record of 58:49, ran a world-leading 7:26.64 over 3000m, the fastest time in the world since 2007
Timothy Cheruiyot, Kenya, ran world-leading 3:28.45 over 1500m, undefeated in three 1500m races
