Four Sports Personalities of the Months of January, February, March and April have been feted for their achievements in the already scintillating 2023 season.
The quartet of Kelvin Kiptum, Pamela Adhiambo, Beatrice Chebet and Rosemary Wanjiru were rewarded on May 24 in an unprecedented multiple award ceremony held in Nairobi.
London Marathon champion and the second fastest man over the distance, Kiptum, was named the April player of the month.
The 23-year-old run 02:01:25 to record the second fastest time, 17 seconds shy of beating compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon world record time of 02:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. He won his marathon debut at the Valencia Marathon in 2:01:53 last year in what became the fastest debut in marathon history.
Adhiambo of Kenya Pipeline ladies’ volleyball team was feted with the January LG/SJAK player of the month award. Adhiambo guided her team to the first KVF national league title since 2017. Pipeline beat KCB 3-1 in a tightly contested final during the season’s playoffs in Nairobi.
World Cross-Country champion Chebet bagged the February award. The 2019 under-20 world cross-country champion, overpowered Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama and compatriot Agnes Jebet to clinch the Championships held in Bathurst in a time of 33:48 minutes.
The reigning Tokyo Marathon champion Wanjiru claimed the March award. She cruised to victory at the 2023 Tokyo Marathon on March after closing the finish line in 2:16:28. Her time placed her among the world’s top ten fastest women marathoners
LG Electronics East Africa Senior Trainer and Content Manager, William Kamore lauded the quartet for their exemplary performance.
“Kenya is known for producing great athletes especially in long and middle distance races. LG and SJAK have partnered to raise the morale of athletes through these awards and help them target desirable limits in sports and make a difference in their livelihoods," said Kamore.
SJAK chairman James Waindi said: "Today we see athletes fighting to break the ceiling and put Kenya on the global map. I'm glad that this award has worked to whip up the enthusiasm of athletes and also improve their welfare with a wide range of LG products," Waindi said.
Over the past years, the LG/SJAK awards has rewarded the creme de la creme of Kenyan sportspersons including Eliud Kipchoge, Ferdinand Omanyala, Angela Okutoyi, Karan Patel, Faith Kipyegon among others.
The winners walked home with personalized trophies and a LG 55 inch NanoCell TV each.
