Marathoner Chebet wins SJAK Sports Personality for the Month of April

Evans Chebet after winning the Sports Personality of the month of April 2022.[Courtesy]

Evans Chebet is the Sports Personality of the month of April 2022.

The Kapsabet based athlete achieved the feat after winning his first-ever marathon major title the prestigious Boston Marathon.

Chebet racked up victory in a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes and 51 seconds and has had his campaign effectively sewn up when the strong field of athletes in Boston failed to match his finishing touch.

And he did it in bravado bearing compatriots Lawrence Cherono and defending champion Benson Kipruto to a scintillating podium dash.

In winning the Boston showpiece, the star athlete finally made his presence felt four years after he had retired at the 29km mark of the fabled marathon.

But on April 18, an indefatigable Chebet bossed the Boston field, pushing away from the leading pack after 30km and maintaining the lead to the very end.

“It’s also a great pleasure to be named the best sports personality of the month in a potentially competitive month of sport in April,” an excited Chebet said after receiving the April award, adding;

“Chebet beat a strong field of athletes nominated for the April award including Boston Marathon Women’s winner Peres Jepchirchir who became the first athlete to claim an Olympic gold along with the Boston and New York titles.

Also on the list of nominees was Judith Cheptum and rally star Karan Patel who won the third round of the 2022 FIA African Rally Championship (Equator Rally) from start to finish.

Jeptum won the Paris Marathon in a definitive fashion on April 3, smashing the previous course record of 2:20:55 which was set by Purity Rionoripo in 2017.

Nominated alongside Chebet was Maurine Chepkemoi destroyed the course record at the 75th edition of the Enschede marathon that was held on Sunday (May 24) in Enschede, Netherlands.

The five gold medalists for the Kenya team Hit Squad at the Africa Zone 3 Boxing Championship in Congo were also nominated for the April award. They were Light welterweight Teresia Wanjiru, Welterweight Everlyne Akinyi,, Light heavyweight Elizabeth Andiego, Flyweight David Karanja and Bantamweight Shaffi Bakari Hassan.

Nairobi by LG . Electronics East Africa Managing Director Sa Nyoung Kim congratulated Chebet for putting Kenya on the world map during the Boston Marathon extravaganza.

"As title sponsors of this award, we take this opportunity to congratulate Chebet for his stellar performance in Boston.”

“This year, we think it is wise that we expand this support to sports enthusiasts in our communities and institutions of learning as a way to support and inspire upcoming sports giants across diverse disciplines.”

“We have invested at least Ksh.6 million with the noble objective of spearheading Kenyan sport to the next level," said Kim.

SJAK President Chris Mbaisi thanked LG for their unswerving support saying the partnership has gone a long way in rewarding excellence.

"For 8 years LG has demonstrated their support for sports, both on and off the pitch. And together we share an ambition of creating opportunities at all levels and ensuring every aspiring athlete enjoys an enabling environment. We look forward to further developing our relationship over the coming years," said Mbaisi.

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