Omanyala, Faith Kipyegon named 2021’s best sports personalities

African record holder in the 100m Ferdinand and double 1500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon were awarded as the best male and female sports personalities of 2021 at the annual Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) staged at the Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on Tuesday.

Omanyala waded off competition from Olympic Marathon champion and World Record holder Eliud Kipchoge to clinch the award after a hugely successful year that saw him break the national record four times within three months and also set a new African record.

Kipyegon beat fellow Olympic champion, Marathoner Peres Jepchirchir to clinch the female award, having successfully defended her Olympic title in Tokyo.

Tokyo 2020 Paralympics bronze medallist Nancy Chelangat won the Sportswoman Living with a Disability gong as Deaflympian Simon Kibai scooped the men’s award.

-Developing