World Athletics has revealed the nominees for the 2025 Male and Female Track Athlete of the Year awards, recognizing the season’s most dominant performers whose achievements highlighted an outstanding year capped by the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Female Nominees

The women’s shortlist features American stars Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, alongside Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, and the Netherlands’ Femke Bol — all of whom captured multiple global titles and delivered sensational performances throughout the season.

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dominated the sprints, sweeping gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at the Tokyo World Championships. She ended the season unbeaten in the 100m and owned the five fastest times of the year.

Her compatriot Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone extended her reign over the one-lap events, claiming world titles in both the 400m and 4x400m. She went undefeated in the 400m and 400m hurdles and clocked the second-fastest 400m time ever recorded.

Dutch sensation Femke Bol continued her remarkable form in the 400m hurdles, taking world and Diamond League crowns while remaining unbeaten across the event all season. She produced the three fastest times of the year.

Kenya’s distance duo also made their mark. Beatrice Chebet captured the world 5000m and 10,000m titles and broke the 5000m world record, while Faith Kipyegon retained her 1500m world crown, added a 5000m silver, and shattered the 1500m world record.

Male Nominees

On the men’s side, the nominees are Rai Benjamin, Noah Lyles, Jimmy Gressier, Cordell Tinch, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi. The list notably features no Jamaican representation this year.

Rai Benjamin of the United States secured the 400m hurdles world title and posted two of the year’s three fastest times.

Fellow American Noah Lyles added to his growing legend with world titles in the 200m and 4x100m, plus bronze in the 100m. He remained unbeaten in the 200m throughout 2025 and captured the Diamond League title.

European distance star Jimmy Gressier of France claimed the world 10,000m crown, took bronze in the 5000m, and won the Diamond League 3000m title.

Another American, Cordell Tinch, emerged as the new force in sprint hurdling, taking both the world and Diamond League 110m hurdles titles while producing four of the top six times of the year.

Rounding out the men’s nominees is Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, the world and Diamond League 800m champion who delivered four of the six fastest performances over two laps this season.

Voting and Next Announcements

Fans can now help determine the finalists by voting on World Athletics’ social media platforms. Voting closes on October 19.

The Field Athlete of the Year nominees will be announced on October 20, followed by the Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year nominees on October 27.

The winners of the women’s and men’s World Athlete of the Year awards will be chosen from among the category winners and will be revealed at the World Athletics Awards later this year.