Double Olympic Games 1,500m champion Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon and Africa 100m record holder Ferdinand Omurwa Omanyala have been named as the Sportswoman and sportsman of the year during the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) held today at the Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega County.
Chepngétich garnered more votes to beat Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir and Harambee Starlets striker Jentrix Milimu Shikangwa.
The national 100m champion, Omanyala defeated Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Korir and Africa and National rally champion Carl “Flash” Tundo for the men’s title.
To reach here, Omanyala was the first Kenyan to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo upto semifinals with a national record of 10.01 before running another national record in 9.96 seconds and broke the 100m African Record when he finished second in 9.76 behind America Trayvon Bromell 9.76 during the Absa Kip Keino Classic.
Chepngétich won her double at the Tokyo games and won the Diamond league title, improved the record by two seconds when she won in Monaco in 3:51.07, won an Olympic Record time of 3:53.11 to beat Laura Muir and Hassan, who got silver and bronze respectively.