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Soufiane El Bakkali Honored as Second Best Male Athlete of 2023 by African Athletics Confederation

Saturday 23 December 2023 - 10:11

Moroccan steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali has been named the second-best male athlete of the year 2023 by the African Athletics Confederation (CAA). El Bakkali, who clinched his second consecutive world title in August in Budapest, maintained his impressive consistency throughout 2023, remaining undefeated in all five steeplechase finals he competed in. The CAA noted that he also improved his personal record in the event, clocking an impressive 7 minutes, 56 seconds, and 68/100th of a second.

In the rankings, the Moroccan champion was edged out by Kenyan athlete Kelvin Kiptum, the winner of this year's Berlin Marathon and the current holder of the marathon world record. The third spot went to Burkina Faso's Hugues Fabrice Zango, known for his achievements in the triple jump, who secured his country's first-ever world championship title in Budapest after claiming his first Olympic medal two years earlier.

On the women's side, the African Athletics Confederation selected Kenyan Faith Kipyegon as the best female athlete of the year. Kipyegon is a double world champion in the 1,500m and 5,000m events and holds the world records for the 1,500m, Mile, and 5,000m.

The second position went to Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, who set the world record in the Marathon in 2023, while the third position was awarded to her compatriot Gudaf Tsegay, the world champion in the 10,000m and the world record holder in the 5,000m.

These recognitions highlight the exceptional achievements of athletes across the African continent, showcasing their dedication, talent, and significant contributions to the world of athletics in the past year.

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