World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge and women’s 1500m queen Faith Kipyegon are the 2022 Sports Personality of The Year Awards (Soya) winners.
The two emerged tops at the 19th edition of the gala held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Friday night.
Kipchoge beat last year’s men’s winner Ferdinand Omanyala who finished second as Olympic and world 800m champion Emmanuel Korir settled for third.
“Thank you very much, I’m humbled with the victory, I wish you all a great year ahead,” Kipchoge said through a recorded video from Eldoret.
Kipchoge had a splendid season, winning the Berlin Marathon with a new world record.
It was the second time that the Olympic champion was slashing his record on the flat German course.
Kipyegon, who successfully defended her Sportswoman of the year title, was present to receive her prize.
“I feel honored to be here, thank you my fellow athletes for voting for me”.
“This is the second trophy I’m getting in Soya, I’m very humbled.”
“I’m hopeful that next season will be special to me and the athletics fraternity,” Kipyegon underlined.
The 19th edition was dominated by Anti-Doping messages from key speakers.
Guest speaker Collins Injera advised athletes present to take care of their bodies.
The Kenya rugby ace warned them to stay away from performance-enhancing drugs saying they are very harmful.
“Kindly, be a role model to upcoming players, just do the right thing, exercise fair play in the game, win fairly so as to be happy at the end of the day that you did your best on the pitch,” Injera emphasized.
Webuye West Member of Parliament Dan Wanyama reiterated Injera’s sentiments saying he never swallowed any drug to improve his performance on court in his heydays.
“We only knew ugali,skuma and nyama ( posho, meat and kales),” Wanyama said.
“Kindly know that this menace will bring your whole career down.
“Kindly don’t be selfish because you want to win through shortcuts, it will be sad to see Kenya go the Russian way,” Wanyama said.
Soya Founder Paul Tergat told the winners to be great ambassadors of Kenya in 2023, urging them to run clean and market the country well globally.
UTILITIES
The 2022 Soya Awards
MOST PROMISING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR BOY
1. Andrew Wahome – Golf
2. Reynold Kipkorir -Athletics
3.David Katana – Judo
MOST PROMISING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR GIRL
1. Medina Okot – Basketball
2. Faith Cherotich – Athletics
3. Rachel Achieng – Weightlifting
SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR MEN
1. Kabras Sugar – Rugby
2.4x100m relay team – Athletics
3. National Cereals – Handball
SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR WOMEN
1.KCB Women Volleyball
2. Kenya Lionesses 15’s – Rugby
3. Nairobi Water – Handball team
COACH OF THE YEAR
Japheth Munala (KCB) – Volleyball
SPORTSMAN LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
1. Symon Cherono – Deaflympics
2. Isaac Makokha – Golf
3.Ian Wambui Kahiga – Deaflympics
SPORTSWOMAN LIVING WITH A DISABILITY
1. Hellen Wawira – Powerlifter
2. Nancy Chelangat – Paralympics
3.Serah Wangari Kimani- Athletics
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
1. Faith Kipyegon – Athletics
2. Angela Okutoyi – Tennis
3.Beatrice Chebet – Athletics
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
1. Eliud Kipchoge – Athletics
2.Ferdinand Omanyala – Athletic
3.Emmanuel Korir – Athletics
