Eliud Kipchoge among Kenyans shortlisted as World Athletics celebrates 40 years

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ATHLETICS Eliud Kipchoge among Kenyans shortlisted as World Athletics celebrates 40 years

Abigael Wafula 16:30 - 11.04.2023

The late Paul Kipkoech has also been shortlisted after becoming the first African to win a world title in 1987 in Rome.

To celebrate 40 years of the World Athletics Championships, the sport's governing body has called upon fans to choose 40 greatest moments in the history of the event with world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge among Kenyans shortlisted.

By casting a vote, a fan can win a trip for two including flights, accommodation, and tickets for the first weekend of action to the World Championships in Budapest from August 19-27. Fans are required to choose 10 favourite moments from both the women’s and men’s long lists.

https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics/status/1645734330730266625?s=20

Kipchoge, who at only 18 years old, won the 5000m race during the 2003 edition in Paris when he obliterated a strong field that had attracted 1500m champion Hicham El Guerrouj and 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele.

Kipchoge has been shortlisted alongside USA’s Allen Johnson who won his fourth world 110m hurdles title.

Also, in the mix is Poland’s Robert Korzeniowski who established the first official world record for the 50km race walk, winning his third world title in the discipline.

Among the shortlists include two-time World 3000m Steeplechase (SC) champion Conseslus Kipruto and four-time World 3000m SC champion Ezekiel Kemboi are among Kenyans shortlisted.

Kipruto has made it to the list after his exploits at the 2017 global event in Doha, Qatar. Returning from injury, Kipruto won the steeplechase.

He has been nominated alongside New Zealand’s Tom Walsh who took an early lead with a championship record of 22.90m, one of the best marks in history in the shot-put category. That stood as the best mark of the final until USA’s Joe Kovacs went out to 22.91m in the final round.

Another American, Ryan Crouser then responded with 22.90m to miss out on gold by one centimeter but took silver on countback. Competing on home soil, Mutaz Barshim returned from injury to win the high jump, much to the delight of the crowd.

During the 2015 edition in Beijing, Kemboi won his fourth world steeplechase title, leading a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 in the process.

He has been nominated alongside USA’s Christian Taylor who produced the second-best leap in history, 18.21m, to win the triple jump.

USA’s Ashton Eaton broke his own world decathlon record with 9045. Within his series, he broke the world decathlon best for 400m with 45.00.

The late Paul Kipkoech has also been shortlisted after becoming the first African to win a world title in 1987 in Rome.