Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian “Pocket Rocket” Cheruiyot is the 2016 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) winner.
Cheruiyot, who also won silver in 10,000m at the Rio Olympic Games, edged out Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Paralympians Samuel Muchai and Nancy Koech to reclaim the overall title she last won in 2011.
The 33-year-old Cheruiyot, who had two medals from the 2012 London wrapped up her Rio outing with an Olympic record time of 14 minutes and 26.17 seconds in 5,000m, leading compatriot Hellen Obiri to a 1-2 finish. The Kenyans stunned pre-race favourite Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia to third.
Cheruiyot, the 10,000m World champion, had earlier won silver in 10,000 in a national record time of 29:32.53, losing the battle to Ayana, who returned a world record time of 29:17.45.
Cheruiyot also bagged the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year award, beating fellow Olympic gold medallist Faith Chepng’etich (1,500m) and Jemimah Sumgong (marathon).
Final list of awards
Overall Sports Personality of the Year – Vivian Cheruiyot (Athletics)
Sportsman of the Year- Eliud Kipchoge (Athletics, Marathon)
Sportswoman of the Year – Vivian Cheruiyot (Athletics, 10,000m, 5,000m)
Sportsman of the year living with disability: Samuel Muchai (Athletics, T11- 1,500m, 5,000m)
Sportswoman of the year living with disability – Nancy Koech (Athletics)
Most promising boy – Kipyegon Bett (Athletics)
Most promising girl – Mwanahalima Adam (Football)
Men team of the year – Kenya Sevens (Rugby)
Women team of the year – Harambee Starlets
Sports federation of the year – Tennis Kenya
Boys school team of the year – Kamusinga (Hockey)
Girls school Team of the year – Kaya Tiwi (Basketball),
School Player of the Year Girls – Haddasah Gichovi (Athletics)
School Player of the Year Boys – Allan Singar (Table Tennis, Menengai High School, Nakuru)
School Coach of the Year – Philip Onyango (Kaya Tiwi, Baketball)
Coach of the Year – Jos Openda (Telkom Orange)
Hall of Fame – Jackson Omaido (Rugby), Naftali Temu (Athletics)
Community Hero – Felix Oloo (Rugby, New Life International School, Nakuru)