Kenya

The Member Federation Award honours a national governing body that has gone above and beyond to serve its athletes, fans and greater community. The shortlisted federations were nominated by each of the six area associations.

According to World Athletics, Jamaica, in the face of difficult health and economic circumstances, stepped forward to host the 49th Carifta Games that were held in April.

The record-breaking performances at the event were reflective of the preparations and commitment of the local organizing committee, which was put in place by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

The country’s athletes – particularly the women – produced outstanding performances at the elite end, namely at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, the World Athletics U20 Championships Cali 22, the Commonwealth Games, and on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.

Jamaica’s O’Dayne Richards, meanwhile, was elected Chair of the NACAC Athletes’ Commission.

Also among the nominees is Brazil that hosted six international events successfully in 2022, including the South American U18 and U23 Championships, the South American Cross Country Championships, the Pan-American Cross Country Championships, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, and an international grand prix.

The federation secured two revolutionary sponsorship deals, benefitting the country’s elite athletes as well as providing a boost to the sport at grass roots level.

Guam’s significant governance reforms at Guam Track and Field have led to an athletics resurgence within the country, as underlined by the country’s performance at the U18 and U20 Oceania Championships, as well as at the Pacific Games.

Guam will host the Oceania Cross Country Championships at the end of 2022, the country’s first area championships for more than 10 years and a direct result of the hard work the federation has done in governance over the past year.

The federation has also signed multiple sponsor and partnership agreements for the national kit and local competitions.

Kenya was also among the members nominated as it was the first member federation to sign the Sport for Climate Action Framework, underlining the governing body’s position at the forefront of climate action in Kenya.

Since August 2021, when it signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Athletics Kenya has installed four air quality sensors in the Kasarani Stadium, Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi National Park and Nakuru Athletics Club, with more to come.

As well as staging the only Continental Tour Gold meeting in Africa, Kenya also hosted a media development programme for the African region in 2022.

At the elite end of the sport, Kenya topped the medals table at the African Championships, winning 10 gold medals, five silver and eight bronze. Eliud Kipchoge also lowered his own marathon world record, while Faith Kipyegon and Emmanuel Korir added world titles to the Olympic gold medals they won last year.

Korea’s years of investment finally paid off for the Korea Association of Athletics Federations in 2022 as high jumper Woo Sanghyeok won world indoor gold – the country’s first global indoor title. He went on to take silver at the World Championships in Oregon and performed consistently on the international circuit.

The country is preparing to host the Asian U20 Championships in June next year and is bidding for the 2025 Asian Championships.

They also continue their fine work in the grass roots of the sport, including building and launching their own national development centre which aims to host training camps for national and international athletes.

Spain hosted the inaugural European Off-Road Running Championships, a continental championship that combined trail and mountain running and which took place in El Paso on the Spanish island of La Palma in July.

Despite the odds – including a volcano eruption in the lead-up to the event – the championships was a tremendous success.

Spain also hosted the inaugural Dynamic New Athletics (DNA) European U20 Clubs competition, where more than 200 athletes representing teams from 11 countries took part in what was billed the ‘Clash of the clubs’.

Showcasing all they learned in the hosting of these events, Spain staged an international conference in October entitled ‘Team Athletics: The Sport’s New Offer’.

The winner will be announced in early December on World Athletics' social media platforms.

Chepngetich, a three-time Chicago Marathon champion, became the first woman to officially break the 2:10 barrier, an incredible milestone that will go down in history. She revealed that the drive to give her daughter a better life has fueled her desire to succeed at the highest level.

“I am pushing so much because my daughter is motivating me to work harder. Now she is in Form One, so I should work hard for her to study,” Chepngetich shared. “Mothers always have a lot to do, so it is not easy. Our children are motivating us to work harder so that we show them the way and how life goes.”

Chepngetich’s commitment to being a positive role model for her daughter is paralleled by the inspiration she draws from Fraser-Pryce, a Jamaican sprinting icon who has continued to excel on the world stage while balancing motherhood. The Kenyan marathoner expressed her admiration for Fraser-Pryce’s longevity and resilience.

“Shelly-Ann motivates me and inspires me to do a lot,” she said. “She started her career a long time ago before me, so I am following in her footsteps to run for a long time like her and smart.”

Fraser-Pryce’s influence has been profound, not just on Chepngetich but also on other African athletes, including Faith Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic 1500m champion and world record holder, and Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josée Ta Lou. Both have publicly acknowledged the impact of the Jamaican sprinter on their own careers.

As a self-coached athlete, Chepngetich’s performance in Chicago was nothing short of phenomenal. Her marathon splits of 64:16 and 65:40 were unmatched by any of her competitors, with Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede finishing a distant second in 2:17:32.

With her Chicago victory and world record now in the history books, all eyes will be on Chepngetich as she prepares for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. As she continues to balance the roles of world-class athlete and mother, she’ll carry the motivation and inspiration from her daughter and Fraser-Pryce, two forces that have driven her to unprecedented heights in the marathon world.

Kenyan member of parliament Gideon Kimaiyo confirmed the pair’s death in a statement on X.

Mr Kimaiyo said: “It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the passing of Kelvin Kiptum, the world marathon record holder, and his coach in a tragic accident along the Eldoret-Kaptagat road.

“Kelvin Kiptum was at the prime of his career, a legend in his own right. It’s a tough one to take.

“Our thoughts are with their families during this incredibly difficult time. The people of Keiyo South are saddened by this loss. May their souls rest in eternal peace.”

Kiptum, 24, set a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds at the Chicago Marathon in October last year.

He also won the London Marathon in 2023 with a record time of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.

The organisers of the London Marathon said on X: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the terrible news of the death of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“The thoughts of everyone at the TCS London Marathon are with Kelvin’s and Gervais’ family and friends.”

World Athletics president Seb Coe said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the devastating loss of Kelvin Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.

“On behalf of all at World Athletics, we send our deepest condolences to their families, friends, teammates and the Kenyan nation.

“It was only earlier this week in Chicago, the place where Kelvin set his extraordinary marathon World Record, that I was able to officially ratify his historic time.

“An incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly.”

At the 2022 Valencia Marathon, Kiptum set the record for the fastest debut marathon in history, crossing the line in a course record of two hours, one minute and 53 seconds.

He was due to compete at the Rotterdam Marathon in April, which would have been his first event since setting the world record.