Ruth Chepngetich scoops October's LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month award
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 13.11.24. | 12:34
Her outstanding performance in Chicago saw her win the coveted SPOM for the third time after wins in April 2021 and March 2022
Kenyan marathoner Ruth Chepngetich is October's LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM), following her record-breaking exploits at this year’s Chicago Marathon on Sunday 13 October.
The 30-year-old, who arrived with a personal best of 2:14:18 in the 42-kilometre race, became the first woman to complete the distance in under two hours and 10 minutes, timing 2:09:56 to break Tigst Assefa’s initial record of 2:11:53.
On top of winning the Chicago Marathon three times, Chepngetich has also been nominated for the women’s World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award.
Her outstanding performance saw her win the coveted SPOM for the third time after wins in April 2021 and March 2022.
Also competing for the award was Junior Starlets striker Lorna Faith Wasike, who was named the Player of the Match when Kenya stunned Mexico 2-1 at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in the Dominican Republic on Thursday 24 October.
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Other nominees included: Albania-based central midfielder Kevin Wangaya, highly-rated forward Aldrine Kibet of Spain's Nastic Soccer Academy, Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala, and AFC Leopards right winger Hassan Beja.
Kenya Sevens speedsters Patrick Odongo and Ben Salem also made the nominations for their inspirational performance as the national team rallied to defend the Safari Sevens title.
All-rounder Rakep Patel, who was Kenya’s best player in the 2024 Men’s Cricket World Cup Challenge League “A” was also part of the nominees, as Joyce Njeru, the first African woman to win the overall Golden Trail World Series title, was also nominated.
Also on the shortlist were Nairobi City Thunder’s Derrick Ogechi and Kapsokwony Athletics Kenya Cross Country winner Maureen Jepkoech.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, LG Electronics EA MD, Dong Wan Lee, underscored the essence of celebrating Kenya’s world-beating sports personalities.
“At LG Electronics, we are committed to the empowerment of the communities in which we operate, and the SPOM Award has over the last decade been a key avenue for us to showcase to upcoming generations the importance of talent recognition.
“We celebrate people like Chepngetich as well as the many other talented sports personalities that were nominated.”
