Beatrice Chebet’s historic season overlooked again as World Athletics Awards finalists announced

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet has once again been omitted from the final shortlist for the World Athletics Awards, despite delivering one of the most dominant seasons in recent history.

The long-distance star won gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the World Championships and shattered the 5000m world record yet failed to make the final cut for Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.

This marks the second consecutive year Chebet has been snubbed by World Athletics. In 2024, she was also excluded from the top honors despite winning Olympic gold in the same two events and becoming the first woman in history to run under 14 minutes in the 5000m.

The latest shortlist includes Femke Bol of the Netherlands, the world 400m hurdles champion, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA, who won the 400m and 4x400m titles and posted the second-fastest 400m time ever.

Their inclusion has sparked debate among fans and experts, many of whom question how Chebet’s double gold and record-breaking performance could be overlooked in favor of athletes with fewer individual titles.

Also missing from the final list are Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the USA, who swept the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the World Championships, and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who won the 1500m world title, claimed silver in the 5000m, and set a new world record in the 1500m.

World Athletics selected the top two athletes in each category, track, field, and out-of-stadium—based on votes from its Council, Family, and a public social media poll.

Fans will now vote between 4–9 November to determine the overall winners, with the final results set to be revealed at a ceremony in Monaco on 30 November.

Chebet’s continued exclusion has raised questions about the criteria used to evaluate performances and the visibility of distance running achievements compared to sprint and hurdle events.