Chicago Marathon 2023 winner, Kelvin Kiptum, continues to receive congratulatory messages from Kenyans.
This followed his latest victory at the World Athletics rankings where he clinched position seven with a score of 1504.
Kenyan athletes who scooped top ranks
Kiptum surpassed his counterparts including marathon powerhouse, Eliud Kipchoge, who shook hands at position nine, with a score of 1488.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Ferdinand Omanyala and Simon Koech both settled on positions 22, 43 and 49 with a score of 1449, 1418 and 1408 respectively.
In the women’s ranking, Faith Kipyegon emerged as position 1 in 1,500 and 5,000 metres races after earning 1584 points.
World Athletics rankings
The event took place on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
World Athletics rankings recognise best-performing athletes by assigning a points score best on an average of their best recent competition performances.
The performance scoring is primarily based on the time or mark of the athlete, with additional points for their placement within the competition, along with some minor modifications based on the conditions.
Worlds athletic awards 2023
In December 2023, two-time Olympics 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon, marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, World 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and World 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist Faith Cherotich were all feted during the 2023 World Athletics Awards held in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Kipyegon was named Female World Athlete of the Year in track events after a stellar season.
The 29-year-old completed a double at the World Athletics Championships in August, a month after she shattered world records in the 1,500m, 5,000m and one-mile races, the East African reported.
Kiptum won the Male World Athlete of the Year, after shattering the marathon world record by winning the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours and 35 seconds in October 2023.
The 23-year-old took away 34 seconds from the previous marathon world record of 2:01:09 set by Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge in the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
Kiptum also smashed the London Marathon course record, winning in 1:01:25 on April 23, 2023.