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World Athletics has nominated five athletes for the Men’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award, sparking controversy over the omission of consistent road runner Sabastian Sawe, despite his impressive season.
As part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, World Athletics announced a list of five nominees for Men’s Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year and questions abound the decision to snub Sabastian Sawe, a consistent road runner who has been on fire this season.
The list of nominees announced includes newly-crowned Valencia Half Marathon champion Yomif Kejelcha, two-time world cross country champion Jacob Kiplimo, Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto and Olympic 20km race walk champion Brian Daniel Pintado. Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola has also made the cut in the coveted list.
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09:16 - 29.10.2024
Athletics Kenya gears up for third cross-country showdown in Iten
Athletics Kenya has so far organised two successful cross-country meets in Machakos and most recently at Kapsakwony with attention now shifting to Iten.
However, despite his dominance this season, Sabastian Sawe has missed the list, something that raises eyebrows about the credibility of the selection panel. Sawe started his season with a win at the Kenyan Cross-country championships and proceeded to the World Cross country championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
The serial road runner failed to impress in the men’s senior race with a seventh-place finish but made sure he bounced back to achieve podium finishes in all the races that mattered thereafter.
Sabastian Sawe proceeded to claim top honours at the Prague Half Marathon before finishing second in the 10km race at the adizero Road to Records.
After that, Sabastian Sawe claimed the win at the B.A.A. 10K and then also claimed the win at the Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race. His recent victory was at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.
In comparison to an athlete like Jacob Kiplimo who raced sparingly this season and after defending his cross-country title, has failed to show up in his full capacity. He also won the 10K Valencia Ibercaja but has failed to make an impact in his field events unlike Sawe who has been extremely consistent.
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