
KAMPALA – Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei is among the 11 nominees for the IAAF male athlete of the year, athletics’ governing body said on Monday.
He becomes the first Ugandan to be nominated for the prestigious award.
Cheptegei was nominated for his feat this year in athletics as he won the World Cross Country Champion, World 10,000m Champion and Diamond League 5000 metres.
The Ugandan athlete will seek to join hosts of other African athletes from Kenya, Algeria, and Ethiopia that have won the prestigious award.
According to the release, eleven athletes were nominated including 2018 winner and record-breaker, Eluid Kipchoge of Kenya who broke the two-hour mark in a Marathon race at the weekend.
? #AthleticsAwards announcement@joshuacheptege1 is one of 11 nominees for Male Athlete of the Year 2019.
Retweet this post to vote for him ? pic.twitter.com/XEim9sE8J4
— IAAF (@iaaforg) October 14, 2019
Cheptegei won the 10,000m race in Doha and also holds the world cross country title. Bahamas’ Steven Gardiner (400m), Sweden’s Daniel Stahl (discus) and Norway’s Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles) are also nominated.
Female nominees will be announced on Tuesday.
Fans may vote online on the IAAF’s social media platforms.
Athletes of the year will be announced live on stage at the World Athletics Awards 2019 in November.
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)
– won world cross-country title in Aarhus
– won world 10,000m title in a world-leading 26:48.36
– won Diamond League 500m title