The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum, both representing Kenya, have been honored as Africa’s top athletes for the year 2023. Kipyegon garnered global attention with an exceptional year, setting three world records in the 1500m, 5000m, and one mile events. She also secured two gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest. Kipyegon outshone Ethiopian athletes Tigist Assefa and Gudaf Tsegay, who claimed second and third place, respectively, in the awards presented by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).
Tigist Assefa set a women’s world record with a remarkable run of 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon, while Gudaf Tsegay clinched gold in the women’s 10,000m at the World Championships and subsequently broke Kipyegon’s world record over 5000m at the Diamond League final in Oregon, USA.
Kelvin Kiptum earned the men’s title following an outstanding season, including a victory in the London Marathon and breaking the men’s marathon world record by completing the Chicago Marathon in under two hours and 35 seconds. In his third race over the distance, Kiptum became the first man to complete a competitive race in under two hours and one minute.
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, the Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase champion, secured the second spot in the continent’s best athlete ranking. Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso claimed the third position after winning gold in Budapest.
Recently, Kipyegon and Kiptum were also recognized as the world’s best athletes in track and road running, respectively, during the World Athletics awards held in Monaco, France last week
