This archive report was first published on 22 December 2021.
On December 22, 2021, the shortlist for the Most Promising Boy award at the 2021 SOYA Awards was announced, featuring three stars from the 2021 World Under-20 Championships.
Walk-racer Herristone Wanyonyi, 800m rising star Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and 1500m specialist Vincent Keter are among the five nominees, along with former Chipu assistant captain Matoka Matoka and golfer Taimur Malik.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who trains under former World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei, clinched the World Under-20 800m title in Nairobi, setting a Championship Record time of 1:43.76.
His namesake, Herristone, made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a World Championship title in the walk race, clocking a personal best time of 42 minutes and 10.84 seconds at the Kasarani Stadium.
Meanwhile, Keter, who trains with World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot, won the 1500m race at the Kip Keino Classic, a final stop of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour, with a time of 3:37.24.
The 2021 SOYA Awards, themed 'From Resilience to Recovery,' is sponsored by Kakamega County, Lotto Foundation, CPF Financial Services, NSSF, and Safaricom.
