KENYANS NOMINATED: Rudisha, Vivian in line for World Athlete of the Year Award

David Lekuta Rudisha (KEN) of Kenya celebrates winning the gold. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Olympic gold medalists Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, David Rudisha and Conseslus Kipruto have been nominated for this year’s IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award.

The four are among 20 nominees ten each in the men and women categories who stand to win the IAAF most prestigious award.

Rudisha, who successfully defended his 800m Olympic gold medal won in London 2012 will be hoping to bag the award for the second time, having won it in 2010.

Rio men’s marathon champion Kipchoge and 3000m steeplechase winner Kipruto made it to the list for the first time.

Kipchoge reclaimed the elusive marathon gold that was last won by the late Samuel Wanjiru during the Beijing 2008 games. The 31-year-old cut the tape in 2 hours eight minutes and 44 seconds to win Kenya a second Olympic marathon title.

Kipruto on the other hand had a successful year winning his maiden Olympic title, grabbing it from the tight grip of world champion Ezekiel Kemboi.

Kipruto is also the current 3000m steeplechase Olympic record holder with a time of 8:03.28.

The three will be up against last year’s winner US decathlete Ashton Eaton, Usain Bolt of Jamaica who has won the title a record five times, Olympic 10,000m and 5000m gold medalist Mo Farah of Great Britain who also defended his titles in the Rio games.

Others in the race are Olympic champion and current 400m world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa, triple jumper Christian Taylor (US), hurdler Omar Macleod (Jamaica) and Thiago Braz da Silva of Brazil (pole vault).

Cheruiyot, who won her first Olympic title this year is the only Kenyan woman who made the list. However, this will be the second time for the 33- year-old long distance runner who was also nominated in 2011. She won the 5000m gold and 10,000m silver in Rio and will be hoping that lady luck will smile on her this time round having lost the award to Australian hurdler Sally Pearson in 2011.

Others in the women’s race are Almaz Ayana (Ethiopia), Ruth Beitia (Spain), Kendra Harrison (US), Caterine Ibarguen (Colombia), Ruth Jebet (Bahrain), Sandra Perkovic (Croatia), Caster Semenya (South Africa), Elaine Thompson (Jamaica) and Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland.

Voting for the winner began this week whereby the IAAF and family are voting by email whereas fans are using the IAAF media platforms to vote. The IAAF council will account for 50 per cent of the vote, while the family and fans will share equally the remaining 50. Voting closes on November 1 and the three finalists in both categories will be announced before the winner being declared on December 2 awards gala night in Monaco.