This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
On May 3, 2019, Kenya's Hellen Obiri celebrated winning the women's 3000m at the Diamond League in Doha, Qatar. [REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari]
Kenyan athletics stars have breathed a sigh of relief after World Athletics (WA) announced a rescheduled calendar for the 2020 season, which was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With over 1,000 elite runners from 400m to the marathon depending on running for their livelihood, the decision is expected to save them over Sh5 billion in lost earnings.
Former world champion Elijah Manangoi, who missed much of the 2019 season due to injury, welcomed the move, saying, 'I think that's a great move, we were anxious about the season because of this global pandemic, I know there are still restrictions on gathering and training but individually, I will be adjusting my training programme to stay fit and hope things go as planned.'
World champion Hellen Obiri also expressed optimism, stating, 'We depend on running, but we are optimistic that normal operations will return soon.'
However, coach Bernard Ouma remains cautious, citing international travel restrictions as a potential challenge.
Despite the challenges, Nairobi Athlete Meet Race Director Barnaba Korir is confident that the city will be ready to host the biggest athletic event in the country on September 26.
WA has set a total prize money purse of US$ 200,000 (Sh20 million) for each of the eight Continental Tour Gold meetings scheduled for this year.
