Kenya’s distance running stars Sebastian Sawe and Agnes Ngetich have been nominated for the 2026 World Athlete of the Year awards. World Athletics announced the shortlist of 20 athletes on Tuesday, recognising outstanding performances across track, field and road events.
Sawe made history at the London Marathon by becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in a record-eligible race, finishing in a world-record time of 1:59:30. Ngetich dominated the year by winning the world half marathon title in a women-only world record of 1:05:15 and claiming the world cross-country championship with a commanding victory.
The nominations place Kenya firmly on the global athletics stage once again. Winners will be announced at the World Athletics Awards gala in Monaco on 29 November, with six finalists set to be revealed earlier in November.
The recognition comes as Kenya continues to celebrate its successful bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, the first time the prestigious event will be held on African soil.
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