Will it be Manangoi, Kipruto, Kirui, Obiri or Chepng'etich? Sports Personality of the Year title up for grabs

World Athletics Championships – women’s 5000 meters final – London Stadium, London, Britain – August 13, 2017 – Hellen Onsando Obiri of Kenya celebrates after winning the race. REUTER

SOYA: Obiri, Faith, Conseslus and Manangoi tipped

Volleyballer Wisa and rugby player Mukidza also battle for top slot.

The 2017 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards will be a tight contest as last year’s best performing athletes tussle for the country’s top sports honours.

World Championships gold medallists Hellen Obiri and Faith Chepng’etich highlight a list of five women chasing the overall title at a gala dinner tonight from 7pm at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

However, they will face stiff competition from their male counterparts, who also excelled in their specialties.

Marathoner Geoffrey Kirui, who won gold at the World Championships, 1500m champion Elijah Manangoi, and World Championships 3000m steeplechase winner Conseslus Kipruto are top contenders for the prestigious award.

Obiri made the cut following a successful year that saw her win both the world title and the IAAF Diamond League crown.

She also got the world talking when she blew away former world champion Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana to bag the 5000m gold in 14:34.86 at last year’s London World Championships. 

During the final leg of the Diamond League series in Brussels, Obiri clocked 14:25.88 to emerge victorious. Other than running world lead times, she also holds national records in 5000m and 3000m (indoor).

On her part, Chepng’etich also had a memorable year, winning gold (1,500m) in last year’s World Championships. She also won gold in the same race in the 2016 Olympics to become the third woman in history to achieve the feat.

Kirui, who made history by becoming the first man to win both the world and Boston marathon titles in the same year, leads the men’s chase. Kirui won World Championships gold in 2:08:27 to crown his successful year after winning in Boston.  

Kipruto is also a favourite for the overall award.