Who Among Tokyo Champions Will Be Crowned Track Athlete of the Year?

After a spectacular track season, Kenya’s finest athletes are once again poised to dominate the global stage — this time not on the track, but at the grand gala of world athletics recognition. 

Following their breathtaking performances at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Kenyan stars have found themselves on the shortlist for the World Athletics Track Athlete of the Year honours, reinforcing the nation’s standing as a global athletics powerhouse.

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Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi lead Kenya’s charge after a year that saw them not only secure world titles but also shatter long-standing records. 

World Athletics on Monday confirmed the nominations for the prestigious awards, acknowledging that the 2025 season had been “another memorable year for the sport.”

 The announcement sparked excitement across Kenya, where athletics is more than sport — it is a source of national pride. With voting already open on World Athletics’ social media platforms until October 19, fans are being urged to rally behind their heroes.

Chebet’s performance this year will be etched in athletics history. The double world champion blazed through the Eugene Diamond League in July to smash the 5000m world record, before sealing an unforgettable double — winning both the 5000m and 10,000m titles in Tokyo. Her dominance across distances has made her a strong favourite for the women’s Track Athlete of the Year award.

Kipyegon, meanwhile, proved once again why she is regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance runners of all time. The four-time 1500m world champion and double Olympic gold medallist shattered her own 1500m world record in Eugene, then went on to claim gold in the same event in Tokyo and a silver in the 5000m. Her consistency, grace, and fierce competitiveness make her Chebet’s strongest rival for the top accolade.

On the men’s side, Emmanuel Wanyonyi continues to inspire admiration with his meteoric rise in the 800m.

 After clinching silver at the 2023 World Championships, the young sensation captured world gold in Tokyo, confirming his status as one of the brightest talents in global athletics. His nomination for the men’s Track Athlete of the Year caps off a phenomenal season where his combination of speed, composure, and tactical brilliance set him apart.

The competition will be stiff, however, as the nominees also include athletes such as Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who dazzled the world in 2024 with his Olympic gold in the 200m, and others who impressed across sprint and middle-distance categories.

Kenya’s recent dominance at the World Athletics Awards is impressive — in 2023, four of its five finalists walked away with trophies, including Kipyegon and the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who were both crowned World Athletes of the Year. Wanyonyi and Faith Cherotich also claimed the Rising Star honours that year, underlining Kenya’s deep reservoir of emerging talent.

Cherotich, now the reigning world 3000m steeplechase champion after her Tokyo triumph, was overlooked for nomination this time despite her consistent progression from the junior to senior ranks. Her story, however, remains one of resilience and promise — a symbol of Kenya’s unrelenting future in athletics.

All eyes turn to Monte Carlo, where World Athletics will unveil the 2025 champions and for Kenya, this is more than just an awards season — it is a celebration of legacy, perseverance, and the undying spirit of champions who continue to carry the nation’s flag high.

Whether it is Chebet’s unmatched endurance, Kipyegon’s elegance on the track, or Wanyonyi’s fearless speed, Kenya’s stars have already secured their place in history. The only question that remains is — who will wear the crown this year?