Top 10 male African athletes in 2023 (10-6)

Top 10 male African athletes in 2023 (10-6)

The 2023 Track and Field season proved monumental for African athletes, marking a significant year filled with remarkable achievements. As a Championship year, it showcased Africa’s consistent prowess in the global sporting arena across various competitions, spanning from lesser-known meets to the prestigious Diamond League and culminating in the highly anticipated World Championships.

Amidst a plethora of outstanding athletes, a select few have demonstrated exceptional performances, securing their well-deserved positions on our prestigious 10-man list. These individuals have showcased unparalleled talent, leaving an indelible mark on the world stage with their remarkable achievements throughout the season.

So, who has done enough to merit a place in our ranking? Find out as we begin the countdown with Part 1 of the series featuring Nos. 10 to 6.

10. Tamirat Tola 

One marathoner who can lay claim to being consistent on the grid is Tamirat Tola. The 32-year-old Ethiopian has faced some of the very best over the 26.2-mile course in the course of his career and he keeps on waxing strong. How can he not? After all, he keeps on finding new ways to challenge himself. 

Tola has been on the grid for almost a decade, and although he had only churned out three wins over the marathon before the start of this year, the 2022 World Champion added the New York marathon to his growing list of cities that he has conquered. 

Having kicked off his season at the London marathon, Tola succumbed to the might of the new kid on the block, Kelvin Kiptum as Kenya broke the course record in the English capital. Still, Kiptum held his own to place third in a very fast 2:04:59. He carried that momentum to Budapest as he looked to win back-to-back world titles and was part of a three-man breakaway with eventual champion Victor Kiplangat and Leul Gebresilase before fading, did not finish the race and dropped out after 39 km.

Tola’s big moment of the year came just over two months after as he laced his shoes to run the New York marathon. He seized the men’s title by running hard from the start as he finished in 2:04:58, breaking Geoffrey Mutai’s course record from 2011 by eight seconds. 

Although Tola had arrived in New York with questions about his fitness after he dropped out of the marathon at the…