After producing an obliterating performance at the 2019 Chicago Marathon to smash the 16-year-old women’s marathon World Record, Brigid Kosgei has made the final list of IAAF Female Athlete of the Year to be held in Monaco, on November 23.
Born in Sinon village at Kapsowar, Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kosgei is the only Kenyan finalist in the coveted awards and will face out with American Delilah Mohammed, Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Venezuelan Yulimar Rojas.
Kosgei, 24, started the year with victory at London Marathon in 2:18:20 before her world breaking performance at the Chicago marathon in 2:14:04.
She also won at the Great North Run last month in 1:04:28, the fastest half marathon performance in history, although not eligible for record purposes given the downhill nature of the course.
The mother of twins, Faith and Brian, Kosgei is coached by Erick Kimaiyo of Kapsait Athletics Training Camp, in Elgeyo Marakwet.
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The Kenyan will be up against Mohammed, who also broke the world record with 52.20 at the US Championships.
She again improved her own world record to win the world 400m hurdles title in 52.16. She was a member of American 4x400m that won the world title in Doha.
Shelly-Ann came back from maternity to win the world 100m time and 4x100m titles in world-leading times of 10.71 and 41.44. She also won Pan-American 200m title. In total, the Jamaican won seven of her 10 100m races.
Rojas is a world champion having won world triple jump title with 15.37m. The Venezuelan won nine of her 12 competitions, including the Pan-American Games.
Hassan was in her best form this season winning the world 1500m and 10,000m titles in world-leading times of 3:51.95 and 30:17.62 in Doha.
She also won Diamond League 1500m and 5000m titles and broke world mile record with 4:12.33 in Monaco.
Despite winning world cross country in Aarhus Denmark and defending her world 5,000m title in a world-leading time of 14:26.72 in Doha, Kenyan Hellen Obiri was eliminated from the final five alongside her compatriot and world steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, who won her first world title in the water and barrier in Doha.
A three-way voting process determined the finalists. The World Athletics Council and World Athletics Family cast their votes by email, while fans voted online via our social media platforms.
The Council’s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25% of the final result.
