Athletics

Ruto pays glowing tributes to Kipyegon, Kiptum after World Athletics Awards triumphs

World record holder in 1500m and 5000m Faith Kipyegon (left) shares a light moment with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi on June 13, 2023. (Photo: PCS)

By Dennis Tarus | Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Ruto described Kipyegon as "an incredible human being, a true champion and a once-in-a-lifetime talent".

President William Ruto has paid glowing tributes to Kenyan athletes who scooped various awards at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on Monday night.

Kenyans who dominated the list of winners on the night included Faith Kipyegon (World Athlete of the Year for track events), Kelvin Kiptum (World Athlete of the Year for out-of-stadia events), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Male Rising Star of the Year) and Faith Cherotich (Female Rising Star of the Year).

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Ruto described Kipyegon, who broke three world records in the 1500m, mile, and 5000m events this year, as "an incredible human being, a true champion and a once-in-a-lifetime talent".

"A fitting crown for the Queen of the track, a worthy tribute to one the hardest working athletes alive today, the embodiment of excellence, versatility, fortitude, humility and purpose," Ruto said.

The 29-year-old track sensation improved the world 1500m record to 3:49.11 in Florence, taking almost a full second off the previous mark.

Just one week later, and despite having raced the 5000m just twice before, she improved the world record for that event, clocking 14:05.20 in Paris to shave 1.42 seconds from the old record.

Her third world record came in Monaco, where she smashed the previous mile mark by five seconds, clocking 4:07.64. Then, in Budapest, she won her third senior world 1500m title and her first world 5000m crown.

Faith Kipyegon 🗣️ "Wow I’m so proud of myself. To achieve what I achieved this year was magnificent. It was a dream come true."

The world record-holder in the 1500m and mile is your World Athlete of the Year Award for Track Events ✨#AthleticsAwards pic.twitter.com/aayeKyLXqu
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) December 11, 2023

"Congratulations to the very deserving Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Faith Cherotich, your promise is undeniable and we look forward to many victories in the seasons ahead. Soaring tribute to Kelvin Kiptum, world marathon record holder and now World Athlete of the Year for out-of-stadia events," Ruto said on Tuesday morning.

Kiptum also achieved his world record in a World Athletics Platinum Label road race this year, running 2:00:35 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October.

With that momentous win, Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon.

The 24-year-old Kenyan won the race by almost three and a half minutes and took 34 seconds off Eliud Kipchoge’s previous world record.

Just one year on from his marathon debut, Kiptum now has three of the seven fastest times in history to his name having also won the TCS London Marathon in April in 2:01:25.