World Athletics has unveiled its nominees for the 2024 Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award, recognizing ten remarkable athletes whose achievements have left their marks in the running world this year.
The year’s nominees highlight performances across elite events, including the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World Cross Country Championships, and other major global races.
Fans can vote on World Athletics social media platforms until November 3, with the award winners set to be announced shortly afterward. Here’s a look at each nominee’s journey and key achievements in 2024.
Women’s Nominees
Sutume Asefa Kebede 🇪🇹
Sutume Asefa Kebede made headlines this year by winning the Tokyo Marathon in 2:15:55, setting the fastest marathon time of 2024 and becoming the eighth-fastest woman marathoner ever. Kebede has worked her way up through the marathon ranks since debuting in 2016, often training alongside her husband and coach, Birhanu Mekonnen, who provides significant support. In addition to her Tokyo win, she had a standout performance in the Houston Half Marathon, winning in 1:04:37, a record-breaking achievement on U.S. soil.
Why She’s Nominated:
- Tokyo Marathon winner + course record
- Second-fastest marathon time of 2024
Ruth Chepngetich 🇰🇪
Ruth Chepngetich secured her place as the world’s best marathoner by winning the Chicago Marathon this year in world record time, becoming the first woman to run a sub-2:10 marathon, clocking 2:09:56. She also holds the world record for the half marathon, and has repeatedly dominated major marathon events, known for her risky, yet powerful pacing, which have paid off multiple times in her career with previous wins in both Chicago and London.
Why She’s Nominated:
- Set a new world marathon record (2:09:56)
- Chicago Marathon winner
Sifan Hassan 🇳🇱
Dutch runner Sifan Hassan’s Olympic marathon win in Paris was a defining moment in her storied career, where she set a new Olympic record. Known for her versatility, Hassan has competed and excelled across multiple distances on the track and road. Her move to marathon racing from shorter track events, where she has set records and won medals, was initially surprising to some. Yet, she proved her endurance and adaptability by not only winning the Olympics, but also in London and in Chicago in 2023.
Why She’s Nominated:
- Olympic marathon champion
- Olympic marathon record
- Olympic bronze medal, 5,000m
- Olympic bronze medal, 10,000m
Tigist Ketema 🇪🇹
Ketema had a groundbreaking year, with wins at both the 2024 Dubai Marathon and the 50th Berlin Marathon. At Dubai, she achieved the fastest debut marathon time recorded by a woman at 2:16:07, setting her as a standout in the elite field. In Berlin, Ketema continued her impressive form by finishing in 2:16:42, marking this as the third fastest time ever in the race’s long history. She led the women’s pack from early on, finishing comfortably ahead of the competition in Berlin.
Why She’s Nominated:
- Berlin Marathon winner
- Dubai Marathon winner
Agnes Jebet Ngetich 🇰🇪
Ngetich’s achievements in 2024 are remarkable across multiple distances. She broke the world record in both the 5km (14:25) and the 10km (29:24) road races, showcasing her speed and endurance over varied distances. Additionally, she led the world rankings for the half marathon this year, emphasizing her versatility and dominance across road races globally.
Why She’s Nominated:
- World record in the 5K
- World record in the 10K
- World half marathon lead
Men’s Nominees
Yomif Kejelcha 🇪🇹
Yomif Kejelcha has made headlines in 2024 with an incredible season on the road. Breaking the world record in the half marathon in Valencia with a stunning time of 57:30, Kejelcha continued to showcase his dominance over longer distances. Known for his versatility across distances, he has also achieved impressive times in the 5km and 10km, with a standout 10km mark of 26:37 recorded earlier in the year in Laredo, Spain. This year’s performances build on his extensive career achievements, including two World Indoor Championship titles and a Diamond League title, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite in both track and road events.
Why He’s Nominated:
- World half marathon record holder
- World 10K leader
Jacob Kiplimo 🇺🇬
Ugandan distance star Jacob Kiplimo has consistently demonstrated his dominance in cross-country and road events. In 2024, he claimed the World Cross Country Championship gold, dominating a tough field and challenging terrain. His season also saw him excel in the 10km, adding a victory in Valencia to his list of achievements. Kiplimo’s performances in recent years have placed him among the top long-distance runners globally, highlighted by his Olympic bronze and his world record in the half marathon set in 2021.
Why He’s Nominated:
- World Cross Country Championships gold medalist
- Valencia 10K winner
Benson Kipruto 🇰🇪
This year, Benson Kipruto added to his already impressive marathon career with a win at the Tokyo Marathon, marking him as one of the premier marathoners of the season. His Olympic performance, where he captured bronze in the marathon, further highlighted his ability to perform on the world stage this year. Kipruto has previously claimed victories in major marathons like Boston and Chicago, solidifying his reputation in elite marathon circuits.
Why He’s Nominated:
- Tokyo Marathon winner
- Olympic marathon bronze medalist
Brian Daniel Pintado 🇪🇨
Brian Pintado’s career reached new heights in 2024 with his Olympic gold in the 20km race walk, a historical win that put Ecuador in the spotlight. He added to this accomplishment by contributing to Ecuador’s silver in the mixed relay marathon race walk. Pintado’s achievements this season have made him a prominent figure in the race-walking world, and the only race walker to make the list of nominees.
Why He’s Nominated:
- Olympic 20K race walk champion
- Olympic marathon race walk mixed relay silver
Tamirat Tola 🇪🇹
Tamirat Tola’s 2024 season has been capped by his Olympic marathon victory, where he also set a new Olympic record, confirming his elite status in long-distance running. Tola has consistently ranked among the best in the world, previously earning the World Championships title in 2022 and maintaining top times in marathon circuits.
Why He’s Nominated:
- Olympic marathon champion
- Olympic marathon record
The winners will be announced in Monaco at the World Athletics Awards on Dec. 1.
