Uganda’s long distance runners record breaker Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have been nominated for the World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year Award. The list has 10 athletes across the world.
The duo has had a splendid season this year. Cheptegei who is without a doubt tipped to win the award broke world records at 5000m (12:35.36), 10,000m (26:11.00) and 5km on the roads (12:51) and finished off his season with a fourth spot placing at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships on his debut over the distance.
Teenager Kiplimo won the world half marathon title in a championship record of 58:49. He also ran a world-leading time of 7:26.64 over 3000m – the fastest time in the world since 2007.
Swede pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis who broke the world record in the pole vault twice (6.17m and 6.18m) and produced the highest outdoor vault of all time (6.15m) is also on the list.
American trio of 800m World Champion Donovan Brazier who is unbeaten over seven races he has competed in, sprinter Noah Lyles and shot putter Ryan Crouser have also been nominated for the award.
German javelin star Johannes Vetter, Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm and Swede Discus thrower Daniel Stahl have also been nominated for the award.
A three-way voting process will determine the finalists. The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics’ social media platforms.
Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram this week; a ‘like’ on Facebook and Instagram or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.
The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result.
Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Sunday November 15. At the conclusion of the voting process, five men and five women finalists will be announced by World Athletics.
The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live at the World Athletics Awards 2020 on Saturday December 5.