Faith Kipyegon has retained the sportswoman of the year award, an accolade she received again last year at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA).

The Double Olympic and World 1500m champion who hails from Keringet in Nakuru County was awarded the trophy for her continued success in athletics.

In her speech, Kipyegon was grateful for those who voted for her enabling her to be a back-to-back winner in the sportswoman of the year category.

“This is the second trophy I have won in the SOYA awards. Thank you so much for voting for me and I hope 2023 will be a great year for us as athletes. Pray for us that this 2023 may be special,” she said

Kipyegon was able to register a win over other nominees who were eyeing this title among them Angela Okutoyi in Tennis, Maxine Wahome in Motorsports and, Janet Akello in Rugby.

Okutoyi emerged second. She is known for being the first Kenyan to win a Grand Slam title at the girls’ juniors Wimbledon event partnering Rose Marie Nijkam.

Beatrice Chebet came in third. Chebet won the silver 5,000m race at the World Championships in Eugene and Gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The gala was held in Nairobi at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Last year during the launch of the 2022 Nakuru Stan-Bic Half Marathon, Governor Susan Kihika cited Faith Kipyegon as one of the athletes who have placed Nakuru on the global map.

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Nakuru's Faith Kipyegon Retains Sportswoman of the Year Award

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Purity Kinuthia