NAIROBI, Dec 7: Olympic and world 800m champion David Rudisha and two-time London marathon winner Mary Keitany were named Kenya’s athletes of the year on Wednesday.

It was the second time in two years that Rudisha was named Kenya’s best male athlete following his stellar performance at the London Olympics, where he broke his own world record by winning the two lap race with a time of 1:40.91.

The Olympic and world champion was also bestowed with the Athletics Kenya’s best overall athlete award last Friday and the IAAF male performance of the year in Barcelona last month.

“This award motivates us to do better and also motivate the youth in Kenya to follow our footsteps,” said Rudisha, who was accompanied by his Irish mentor coach, Colm O’Connell at the ceremony.

Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama were named runner-up and third best respectively.—AFP