The World Athletics, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, announced the finalists for the Female Track Athlete of the Year award, naming Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from the USA and Femke Bol from the Netherlands among the contenders. However, the names of Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet were notably absent, despite the impressive performances in 2025.
In its statement, World Athletics announced that the winner will be revealed on November 30.
The announcement has sparked public outrage, with many Kenyans expressing disappointment over the decision by the global athletics body.
Kenyans React to the Final List of the Female World Athletics Award
CNN correspondent Larry Madowo humorously compared the omission of Faith and Beatrice from the prestigious award to Tanzania’s elections, where President Samia Suluhu reportedly locked out her main opponents.
“No Faith Kipyegon or Beatrice Chebet? It’s giving Tanzanian elections,” joked Madowo.
Also Read: University to Honor Beatrice Chebet in a Special Way
Social media influencer Edgar Wabwire said the award had lost its credibility following the exclusion of the two Kenyan stars.
“This award has lost my respect. Where is Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon?” said Edgar.
Another Kenyan, Tim Chambers, questioned how the finalists were selected.
“Are these awards voted by the public or do they have expert track and field analysts making the decision? Surely, given this result, it must be the public, right? I have no skin in the game, but even I can see that Beatrice Chebet should have won hands down,” said Tim.
How Faith and Beatrice Performed in 2025
Social media user Carebea Kieran described the final list as biased, citing the remarkable accomplishments of Faith and Beatrice in 2025.
“In what world is Femke Bol a finalist over Faith, Chebet, and MJW? I genuinely would like an explanation, because there’s nothing Femke did on that track more impressive than what those three women have achieved this season,” said Kieran.
Also Read: Faith Kipyegon Wins Fourth World Title in Women’s 1500m Final in Tokyo
Another Kenyan, Stephen Mwaura, wrote:
“What kind of a joke is this? Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, biased! But anyway, they’ll remain our champions forever.”
The public outrage follows the outstanding achievements recorded by Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet in 2025.
Below is a comparison of the athletes’ major accomplishments in 2025.
Beatrice Chebet;
| Event | Competition | Date | Result | Achievements |
| 5000m | World Athletics Championships (Tokyo) | September 20, 2025 | Gold (14:54.36) | |
| 10,000m | World Athletics Championships (Tokyo) | September 13, 2025 | Gold (30:37.61) | |
| 5000m | Prefontaine Classic (Eugene) | July 5, 2025 | World Record (13:58.06) | First woman to run under 14 minutes |
| 3000m | Rabat Diamond League (Rabat) | May 25, 2025 | African Record (8:11.56) | Second fastest time in history |
| 5000m | Xiamen Diamond League (Xiamen) | April 26, 2025 | Win (14:27.12) |
Faith Kipyegon
| Event | Competition | Date | Result | Achievements |
| 1500m | World Athletics Championships (Tokyo) | September 16, 2025 | Gold (3:52.15) | Won fourth career world title |
| 5000m | World Athletics Championships (Tokyo) | September 20, 2025 | Silver | Finished second to Beatrice Chebet |
| 1500m (Mile) | Prefontaine Classic (Eugene) | July 5, 2025 | World Record (3:48.68) | Broke her own record |
| 3000m | Silesia Diamond League (Chorzów) | August 16, 2025 | African Record (8:07.04) | Ran the second-fastest time in history |
| 1500m (Mile) | Athlos NYC (New York) | October 10, 2025 | Won title (4:17.78) | Fastest mile ever run on US soil |
Besides the public outrage, another award that Kenyans are eagerly watching is the Male Track Athlete of the Year, which includes Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi and the USA’s Noah Lyles among the finalists.
Wanyonyi ran a world-leading 800 m time of 1:41.95 at the Stockholm Diamond League in June, after winning in Oslo with 1:42.78 just three days earlier.
He went on to win the men’s 800 m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025, setting a championship record of 1:41.86.
Wanyonyi also defended his Diamond League 800 m circuit title, clinching victory in Zurich with a time of 1:42.37.
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