Olympic champion Vivian Cheruiyot emerges overall Sports Personality of the Year in 2016 SOYA awards

#SafaricomSOYA2016 Winners pose for a photo [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Vivian Cheruiyot was awarded the overall Sports Personality of the Year in the 13th edition of Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi on Thursday.

The awards were graced by long distance legend and Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) President Haile Gebrselassie, who arrived on Thursday morning to preside over the ceremony.

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Winners included: Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics) [Sportsman 2016], the National Rugby Sevens Team (Sports Team (Men) and Harambee Starlets (Football) who clinched the Sports Team Women award among others.

 

The 2016 Soya Awards Awardees:

Sports Personality of the Year (Overall) Vivian Cheruiyot (Athletics)

 

Sportsman:

1. Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics)

2. Conseslus Kipruto (Athletics)

3. David Rudisha (Athletics)

3. Collins Injera (Rugby)

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Sports Woman:

1. Vivian Cheruiyot (Athletics)

2. Faith Chepngetich (Athletics)

3. Jemimah Sumgong (Athletics)

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Sports Team (Men)

1. National Rugby Sevens Team

2. Tusker Football Club

3. Kenya Simba (National Rugby 15s team)

 

Sports Team (Women)

1. Harambee Starlets (Football)

2. Telkom Orange (Hockey)

3. National Roll Ball team Sportsman with Disabilities

1. Samuel Muchai (Athletics)

2. Henry Kirwa (Athletics)

3. Peter Munene (Athletics)

 

Sports woman with disabilities (Women)

1. Nancy Koech (Athletics)

2. Nelly Sile (Athletics)

3. Irene Cherono (Athletics)

 

School Team (Boys)

1. Friends School Kamusinga (Hockey)

2. Kakamega (Rugby)

3. Upper Hill (Basketball)

 

School Team (Girls)

1. Kaya Tiwi (Basketball)

2. Sinyolo Girls (Hockey)

3. AIC Kosirai (Volleyball)

 

School Coach:

Philip Onyango (Basketball)

 

Outstanding Sports Schools (Boys)

Allan Singar (Table Tennis)

 

Outstanding Sports Schools (Girls)

Hadasah Gichovi (Swimming)

 

Most Promising (Boys):

1. Kipyegon Better (Athletics)

2. Ryan Randiek (Tennis)

3. Joseph Okumu (Football)

 

Most Promising (Girls):

1. Mwanahalima Adam (Football)

2. Sneha Kotecha (Tennis)

3. Kelly Gachaga (Golf)

 

Federation/Association:

1. Tennis Kenya

2. Football Kenya Federation

3. Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association

 

Coach:

Jos Openda (Hockey)

 

Community Hero:

Felix Oloo (Rugby)

 

Hall of Fame:

Jackson Omaido (Rugby) Naftali Temu (Athletics)

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

 

Fact Box
 

Sponsors Amount contributed
 

1. Safaricom Sh16m (Title sponsors)

2. Lotto Foundation Sh3m
3Kenya Pipeline Corporation Sh3m
4. Kenya Tourism Board Sh1.5m
5. SuperSport and Multi Choice ShSh1.5m
6. Communication Authority of Kenya Sh1m
7. National Social Security Fund Sh1m
8. National Hospital Insurance Fund Sh1m
9. Vivienne Taa Sh500, 000

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

SOYA Awards are annual national awards given to sports personalities and organisations in Kenya. The awards were initiated in 2004 by Paul Tergat. The awards for each year are held at the beginning of the following year (e.g. 2016 awards took place in January 2017).

Tergat held the world record in the marathon from 2003 to 2007, with a time of 2:04:55, and is regarded as one of the most accomplished long-distance runners of all time.

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