WANYONYI BEATS NOAH LYLES TO WIN TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Three Kenyan runners, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Sebastian Sawe, and Edmund Serem, received top honours at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on Sunday. Their strong performances all year led to this global recognition.

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the world 800m champion, was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year. Sebastian Sawe, who won the Berlin Marathon, won the Male Out of Stadium Award. Edmund Serem received the Male Rising Star Award.

Wanyonyi won the award over American sprinter Noah Lyles. At the World Championships in Tokyo, the 20-year-old won his first world title in the 800m with a time of 1:41.86, proving he is the best in the world at this distance.

He was also unbeatable in the Diamond League races. He won meets in Oslo, Stockholm, Monaco, and London. He then finished the season by winning the Diamond League final in Zurich. His winning time in Monaco (1:41.44) is the fastest time in the world this year.

Sawe was honoured as the top athlete for races held outside the stadium, like marathons. He won the award ahead of Tanzania’s world marathon champion, Alphonce Simbu. Sawe had a perfect year, winning both marathons he ran. He started with a powerful win at the London Marathon in April, finishing in 2:02:27. In September, he delivered another stunning performance to win the Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16, finishing well ahead of the other runners.

In the Rising Star category, young steeplechase runner Serem won. He beat other top young athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia.