Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali and Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum have been nominated for this year’s Men’s World Athlete of the Year award.
The athletes are the only two male African athletes nominated to the top award this year, out of the total 11 nominees.
Both Kiptum and Bakkali are in contention for the award, which is one of the most prestigious athletics awards, after displaying exceptional performances.
In August, Bakkali, 27, won his second consecutive 3000m steeplechase world championship.
Kiptum, 23, won the London Marathon in April, setting the second-fastest time for the course.
On 8 October, he made history by completing the Chicago Marathon in two hours and 35 seconds, setting the fastest marathon time on record and breaking fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge’s previous record.
The winners will be announced on 11 December after international voting by fans and athletics experts.