Yomif Kejelcha Nominated for 2025 World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year
Addis Ababa, October 27, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s long-distance sensation Yomif Kejelcha has been nominated for the Male Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year at the 2025 World Athletics Awards, recognizing his outstanding performances on the global road racing circuit.
Kejelcha’s 2025 season has been remarkable, featuring the world’s fastest 5 km and 10 km times, with the 10 km marking the second-fastest performance in history. His consistency and tactical racing have established him as one of the world’s premier long-distance athletes.
Fans can support him by voting online via World Athletics’ social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), with voting closing on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM CET.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa is also among the nominees in the women’s Out of Stadium Athlete category. She secured victory at the 2025 London Marathon, setting a women-only world record, and earned silver at the World Marathon Championships, highlighting her dominance in global marathon running.
The Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year award honors top performances in road races, marathons, and race walking. The 2025 nominees are:
Men:
- Yomif Kejelcha (Ethiopia)
- Sabastian Sawe (Kenya)
- Alphonce Simbu (Tanzania)
- Caio Bonfim (Brazil)
- Evan Dunfee (Canada)
Women:
- Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia)
- Sifan Hassan (Netherlands)
- Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya)
- Agnes Ngetich (Kenya)
- Maria Perez (Spain)
The winners will be announced at the World Athletics Awards on November 30, 2025, as part of the overall World Athlete of the Year recognition that combines track, field, and out-of-stadium categories.
Most recently, Yomif Kejelcha reinforced his elite status by defending his Valencia Half Marathon title on 26 October, finishing in 58:02, a commanding victory.