Olympic and London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge was crowned the best sportsman of 2019 as Kenya feted her greatest performers of the year on Friday night.
Kipchoge, the reigning world marathon champion, beat a host of other contestants for the throne that included Timothy Cheruiyot and Geoffrey Kamworor who came second and third respectively in the men’s Sports Personality of the Year category from where the overall winner is picked.
It wasn’t to be World women’s marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei night as she was beaten in the woman’s category by Hellen Obiri.
The night also belonged to volleyball team that scooped four awards.
The national women’s side, Malkia Strikers, was named the women’s Team of the Year with Kwanthanze Secondary School head coach Justine Kigwari winning the Schools coach of the Year Award as his team (Kwanthanze) grabbed the Girls School Team of the Year.
Paul Bitok who won the Olympics ticket as well as the All African Games title with Malkia Strikers won the coach of the Year.
KCB won the men’s title ahead of Kenya Morans (the natioal men’s basketball team that recently qualified for the second round of the FIBA Afro Basket qualifiers) and Bandari FC who play in the Kenyan Premier League coming third.
Seventeen-year-old Harambee Starlets forward Jentrix Shikangwa who was the top scorer at the Cecafa Senior Women with 10 goals,was named the Most promising Sports Person- girls’ category.
Samuel Mushai and Caroline Nyagah won the sports persons living with disability men and women categories respectively while the Kenya Special Olympics beat all the other federations for the Sports Federation of the Year gong.
Full list of winners
Overall winner: Eliud Kipchoge
Sports Man of the Year 2019
1. Eliud Kipchoge- Athletics WINNER
2. Timothy Cheruiyot – Athletics
3. Geoffrey Kamworor – Athletics
Sports woman of the Year
1. Helen Obiri- Athletics
2. Brigid Kosgei- Marathon
3. Ruth Chepngetich- Marathon
Coach of the year: Paul Bitok-(Volleyball Malkia Strikers)
Men Sports Team of The Year
1. KCB Rugby
2. Morans
3.Bandari FC
Sports team of the Year -Women
1. Malkia Strikers – Volleyball
2. Kenya Lionesses- Rugby
3. Harambee Starlets- Football
Sportsman living with disability
1. Samuel Mushai -Athletics
2. Onesmus Mutinda-Athletics (Special Olympics)
3. Vincent Mutai- Athletics
Sports woman living with disability
1. Catherine Nyagah- Athletics (special Olympics)
2. Ruth Jemurgor-Shotput
3. Nancy Chelagat- Athletics
Sports Federation of the Year: Kenya Special Olympics
Most promising personality -Boys
1. Geoffrey Okwatch – Rugby
2. Dominic Ndigiti-Athletics
3. Daniel Sakari- Football
Most promising personality -Girls
1. Jentrix Shikangwa- Football
2. Belinda Wanjiru -Golf
3. Faith Jepkemboi- Long jump
Outstanding School player: Stephen Ndegwa- Swimming
Outstanding Schools player- Girls : Mariah Bianchi -Swimming
School coach of the year
Justin Kigwari- Volleyball Kwanthanze
Boys’ team of the year- Boys
1. Kakamega High -Rugby
2.Upper Hill-Rugby
3. Friend School-Kamusinga- Hockey
School Team of the year- Girls
1. Kwanthanze – Volleyball
2. Moi Girls Kamusinga -Handball
3. St Cecelia Misikhu-hockey
Community Hero 2019: Johanna Omollo (Harambee Stars midfielder)