Junior golfer Andrew Wahome, world under 20 3,000m champion Raymond Kipkorir, world under 20 3,000m silver medallist Felix Korir, motorsport driver Karamveer Singh, weight lifters Joshua Amunga and Joshua Clive have been nominated this year’s Sports Personality of the year CSOYA) Awards.
Wahome has been nominated in the Sportsman of the Year Award (SOYA) for the most promising boy’s category.
Wahome took part in the R&A, a qualifying event at Vet Lab in May where his performance guaranteed him a ticket to the British Open. He also represented his club at the annual Tannahill Shield event in March.
His breakthrough does not end there as was a runners-up at the Faldo Series Golf event at Limuru Golf and Country Club in September, just two months after he helped Kenya’s national team to the Victoria Cup title at the same venue.
Wahome has also rubbed shoulders with some of the best golfers in the continent this year at the Big Five South Africa Open and the Zimbabwe Junior Open.
In the meantime, athletics prodigy Reynold Kipkorir is also in the groove among the nominees
The 18 year old claimed the World U20 1500m title with a dominant display at the World Junior Championships in Cali leading from start to finish to win in 3:35.83.
Kipkorir also finished fourth at the World Athletics Trials in Nairobi in June in 3:34.77 and won his specialty at the Heusden meet setting a World U20 leading time of 3:34.02.
He also set a World U20 lead in 3000m after timing 7:38.83 which was also a new personal best in September.
Kipkorir also won a 10K race in Annecy in a new personal best time of 28:36.
Another athletics wonder Felix Kiptarus Korir also hopes to stand up to be counted in the nominations.
The 19 year old won silver in the men’s 3000 metres at the world U20 Championships in Cali timing 7:47.86. He had finished third at the trials in Nairobi clocking 7:52.08.
Korir also set a new personal best of 13:07.99 in 5000m in a race in France.
Motorsports has also not been left behind with youngster Karamveer Singh in the line-up.
The 11 year old has been declared the most improved in the Bambino class where he currently leads after five straight wins. He is going for his maiden title after clinching the runner-up position last year.
In judo, David Katana of Kajiado North Club has also inscribed his name in those hoping to clinch the award.
In weightlifting, all eyes will be on Joshua Amunga who is the national champion in the 61 kilogrammes category.
Amunga punched above his weight during the last national championships by lifting 150 kilograms and in the process beat several seasoned lifters among them Benjamin Osiemo who competed at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
In boxing, the main hopes in the nominations is 17-year old Joshua Clive who won the national Novices and Intermediate Championships in the lightweight division.
He beat experienced boxers to book a final berth against Olympian Nick “Commander” Okoth during the Africa Boxing Championships trials.
However, Clive lost to Okoth on points in the lightweight final but had already made a strong statement of intent.
Following the feat, Clive has been picked as the Team Kenya captain for the World Youth Championships starting November 14 to 26 in Alicante, Spain