APA- Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa has made it to the five finalists running for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year 2023 honor,according to the World Athletics.
The sport’s governing body confirmed the names of the five finalists from 11 fields of athletes on Monday.
Tigst was named in the Athlete of the Year finalists list for her Berlin marathon triumph and record-breaking performance 18 months after her debut in the race.
The 26 year-old successfully defended the BMW Berlin Marathon title in style, taking more than two minutes of the previous 2:14:04 record set for the 2019 Chicago Marathon.
The Ethiopian faces strong competition, particularly from Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon in Budapest.
Kipyegon became the first woman to win gold in the 15000m and 5000m at the World Championships in Budapest. The Kenyan also set global marks for 5000m, 1500m, and mile as part of a record spree that first began in Paris in June.
Also in contention for the top honor is Netherlands’s World 400m hurdles champion Femke Bol who also set a new World indoor 400m record.
Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas, who became triple jump world champion for the fourth successive time at Budapest, and Jamaica’s World 200m champion and 100m silver medalist Shericka Jackson are the two athletes up for the prestigious award.
The five athletes, who represent five countries from four area associations, have achieved sensational performances across a range of athletics disciplines in 2023.
They won titles and breaking world records at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, one-day meeting circuits, Label road races, and other events around the world, the WA says.
The winner of the 2023 World Athletes of the Year will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms on 11 December, as part of the World Athletics Awards 2023.
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