Kenya’s dominance in long-distance running has been globally affirmed once again with three of our top athletes earning nominations for the prestigious 2025 World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award.
Olympic and World Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir, 10km World Record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich, and World Marathon Major double champion Sebastian Sawe are all in the running for the coveted global gong, following a spectacular year on the roads.
The women’s field: Peres and Agnes shine bright
The two Kenyan queens face stiff competition, most notably from the strong Ethiopian challenge.
Peres Jepchirchir: The undisputed marathon queen
Jepchirchir, already an Olympic champion, continued her golden run by clinching the marathon gold at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. This victory marked her fifth global title and cemented her status as one of Kenya’s all-time greats. She delivered a thrilling sprint finish, clocking 2:24:43 to edge out Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, a fierce rival.
Agnes Jebet Ngetich: The record setter
Ngetich has redefined speed on the roads this year:
- She set the women-only 10km World Record with a blistering time of 29:27 in April.
- She followed this up by running a world-leading time and the third-fastest half marathon performance of all time in Valencia, clocking 1:03:08.
The Kenyan duo will battle it out against:
- Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia): World marathon silver medallist.
- Maria Perez (Spain): Double World Champion in the 20km and 35km race walk.
- Sifan Hassan (Netherlands): Sydney Marathon winner.
The men’s race: Sawe’s double major challenge
Kenya’s marathon hero Sebastian Sawe had a phenomenal year by securing two of the most sought-after titles in the marathon world, making him a major contender.
- Sawe won both the London Marathon and the Berlin Marathon, clocking the top two marathon performances of 2025 including a world-leading time of 2:02:16 in Berlin despite warm conditions. His victory places him firmly in the league of elite road racers.
Sawe will tussle for the award against:
- Alphonse Felix Simbu (Tanzania): World Marathon Champion.
- Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia): Set the second fastest 10km time in history.
- Caio Bonfim (Brazil): World Championships gold and silver medallist in race walk.
- Evan Dundee (Canada): World 35km Race Walk Champion.
The public vote, alongside those from the World Athletics Council and Family, will determine the finalists for the awards ceremony set for November. Let’s rally behind our champions!
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