Last Lap: Long Distance Runner Joshua Cheptegei into the final Five for World Athlete of the Year

It’s down to five state-of-affairs as Uganda’s long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei gets to that one last step to the podium of yet another of the World’s esteemed award – World Athlete of the Year.

After voting (that included fans) which ended early this month (November 6^th), the Ugandan made it to the shortlist as announced by World Athletics on Monday evening.

Cheptegei, twice ascended to the podium claiming gold and silver medals in the 5000m and 10000m in that respect at the Tokyo Olympics. He also ran a world-leading 8:09.55 over two miles at the Prefontaine Classic Meet in Eugene, Oregon.

The 25-year-old, just happily introduced and wedded to former fiancée Carol Yeko Kamari last October, competes for the prestigious award with last year’s winner in Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis as well as Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge who has won the accolade twice.

Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm and American shot-putter Ryan Crouser are the other athletes who complete the shortlist. The eventual winner will be announced at the World Athletics Awards 2021, which will be held virtually on December 1.