Wanyonyi nominated for World Athletics award

World Under-20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi is among five nominees who have been shortlisted for World Athletics Male Rising Star of the Year award.

Wanyonyi won a gold medal at the World Under-20 Championships held in Kasarani in August where he also ran the fastest time this season for juniors of 1 minute 43.76 seconds.

Wanyonyi will battle it out for the award with the World Under-20 110m hurdles champion Sasha Zhoya of France and World Under-20 3000m champion Tadese Worku of Ethiopia.

The US duo of World Under-20 200m record holder Erriyon Knighton and World Under-20 400m hurdles record holder Sean Burrell are also in contention for the top prize.

The winner of the award will be selected by an international panel of experts and be announced live at the World Athletics Awards 2021 slated for December 1.

The nominees are:

Sean Burrell, USA

- World U20 400m hurdles record

- NCAA 400m hurdles champion

- Sixth on world U20 indoor 400m list

Erriyon Knighton, USA

- Olympic 200m fourth place

- World U20 200m record

- World U18 200m best

Emmanuel Wanyonyi, KEN

- World U20 800m champion

- World U20 leading time

- National U18 800m record

Tadese Worku, ETH

- World U20 3000m champion and 5000m silver medallist

- World U20 leading times at 3000m, 10,000m and 10km

- Senior Ethiopian 10km record

Sasha Zhoya, FRA

- World U20 110m hurdles champion

- European U20 110m hurdles champion

- World U20 110m hurdles record