Sports Personality of the Year Ezekiel Kemboi Edna Kiplagat

World and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi is the Sports Personality of the Year.

Kemboi on Tuesday night shook-off stiff competition from Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama and national Sevens team winger Willy Ambaka to clinch the title during the awards gala in Nairobi.

This award proved a befitting finale to the season for the 31-year-old, who is renowned for his ‘Emily Chepchumba’ jig on the track after his now trademark triumphs.

The latest of achievements for Kemboi arrived in August, when he easily retained the 3000m steeplechase world title at a packed Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow that included President Uhuru Kenyatta and first lady Margaret Kenyatta.

“I deserve this award because of my contribution to this country and the continent over the past decade,” a thrilled Kemboi told Daily Nation Sport.

Wanyama, who was part of the Celtic team that retained the Scottish Premier League title in May, came second at the glittering awards ceremony held at the Kenya Wildlife Service headquarters in Lang’ata with Ambaka finishing third.

Edna Kiplagat, who won the marathon title at the World Championships in Moscow, claimed the women’s title, in a category that was dominated by her fellow athletes. World 3000m steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos came in second followed by Eunice Sum claimed who won gold in the 800m discipline at the same event.

The winners in this category were each awarded Sh100,000, Sh75,000 and Sh50,000 respectively alongside glittering trophies whereas Simon Cherono, a deaflympian, who was named the Overall Sports Personality of the Year walked away with Sh150,000 and a trophy.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

The national Sevens team that finished an impressive fifth overall during the last edition of the IRB Circuit Series that ended in May, was awarded with men’s team of the year prize, closely followed by Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and Rugby club KCB, who won the national 7s Circuit title earlier this year.

The women’s prize in the same category went to Africa Volleyball champions Kenya Prisons. The national volleyball women team who are also the African champions came second, with hockey club Telekom settling for third.

The usual suspects were, meanwhile, on standby to share the medals team in the boys’ school team of the year category. Basketball champions Upper Hill emerged winners, closely followed by rugby and hockey winners, Kakamega High School and Friends School Kamusinga respectively.

Little-known Kwanthanze High School from Machakos County, who surprised many by winning both the national and East Africa school games national volleyball title emerged champs in the girls’ category.