Athletics: Chespol shortlisted for IAAF award

Celliphine Chespol Celebrates winning gold in women's 3000m steeplechase with CS Rashid Echesa and assistant team manager John Kimetto on July 13, 2018 in Tampere Finland. [Dennis Okeyo, Standard]

Youngster Chespol shortlisted for IAAF award

World U20 champion Celliphine Chespol is among five athletes shortlisted for the 2018 Female Rising Star Award with the ceremony set for December 4 in Monaco, France.

The Kenyan won Gold in the senior women’s race at the 2018 Africa Cross Country Championships in Chlef, Algeria in March before chalking up silver at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast behind Jamaica’s Aisha Praught.

She would then ink her name in history books by becoming the first athlete to retain the World U20 title in the 3000m women steeplechase in Tampere, Finland in June, and she did so in style by clocking a new world record of 9:12:78.

The 19-year-old went on to win her second silver of the year after finishing second at the African Championships in Asaba, Nigeria. She will face stiff competition from four other nominees including Ethiopian duo of Meseret Belete and Meskerem Mamo.

Among Belete’s achievements for the year is a first place finish at the Gothenburg Half Marathon.She also holds the World U20 best at half marathon with 1:07:51.

Her compatriot Mamo won Bronze in women 5000m at the African Championships.

Sydney McLaughlin of the USA who holds two world U20 bests  at both 400m hurdles and indoor with 52.75 and 50.36 respectively is also in line for the award so is Jamaican sprinter Briana Williams.

Apart from winning the sprints and 4x100m at the Carifta U17 Games, Williams is the reigning World U20 champion in both 200 and 100m. [Clement Wekhulo]