This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced the shortlist for the 2019 IAAF Female Athlete of the Year Award.
Kenyan women Brigid Kosgei, Hellen Obiri, and Beatrice Chepkoech have been nominated for the prestigious award, which will be announced on November 23 in Monaco, France.
The three Kenyan women are among 11 nominees shortlisted for the award, which recognizes exceptional performances in athletics.
According to the IAAF, the nominations reflect the remarkable range of exceptional performances witnessed in the sport this year, including at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha and in the Diamond League and road and cross-country events.
The three Kenyan women have had an impressive year, with Kosgei breaking Paula Radcliffe's longstanding world record in the women's marathon at the Chicago Marathon, while Obiri and Chepkoech were crowned world champions at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Doha.
They will face strong competition for the award, including Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympics 100m champion and multiple world champion over the distance.
The other nominees include world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Great Britain), 1,500m world champion Sifan Hassan (The Netherlands), and high jump world champion Mariya Lasitskene of Russia.
The voting process for the award involves a three-way voting process, with the IAAF Council and the IAAF Family casting their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the IAAF's social media platforms.
