Habari za Wiki - 22 Dec, 2020

Athletics Kenya is 70

Rudisha celebrates Athletics Kenya

The journey of Kenyan athletics began in 1950 and last week Athletics Kenya celebrated her 70th birthday. What a ride it has been because Kenya did not start by winning gold medals.

The first medal won by Kenya was in 880 yards (now 800m) - a bronze medal by Wilson Kiprugut at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo. 

Kenya has won 103 medals at the Olympic Games in track and field. In Seb Coe’s words Athletics Kenya has made an incredible mark on the history of athletics and a huge contribution to the development of the sport.

The event attended by Veterans, legends and current athletes was held at Nyayo National Stadium. On display were running kits from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

Hellen Obiri, Timothy Cheruyoit, Kibiwott Kandie, Catherine Ndereba, and David Rudisha were all present and paid tribute to the pioneers who paved the way for them.  

Capital FM put together this set of photos of the rich history and super-stars.

Lonyangata’s Day in Taiwan

Kenya’s Paul Lonyangata won the 2020 Taipei Marathon, a World Athletics Bronze Label race. Lonyangata broke from fellow Kenyan Elisha Rotich and Ethiopia's Chele Dechasa in the 32nd kilometre to finish in 2:09:18 in his first marathon of the year.

His time is the new course record. Elisha Rotich finished second. Lonyangata is the 2017 and 2018 Paris Marathon winner. Askale Merachi of Ethiopia won the women's race.

Cross Country in Mosoriot

The second leg of Kenyan Cross Country was held at the University of Koitaleel Samoei in Nandi County over the weekend with National Cross Country champion Sheila Chelang’at and former Africa cross country bronze medallist Charles Mneria winning the senior titles. Chelang’at’s winning time was 34:25.6 while Muneria’s time was 30:38.3. 

We can’t emphasise enough just how central these cross country contests are to the Kenyan running scene. Keep a close eye on the names of the winners, the odds are good you’ll see them winning road races around the world soon. 

RAK Half Will Have the Best

RAK Half Marathon has assembled one of the best fields ever for the 19 February 2021 event. Record holders Peres Jepchirchir and Kandie Kibiwott will lead the assault. Also listed are Jacob Kiplimo,  Ababel Yeshaneh, Brigid Kosgei and more.  

We can’t wait to see what Kandie and the Peres vs Ababel duel will offer in February. One thing though we know this is going to be a very fast half marathon and excellent race. And of course, there’s already chatter about chasing world records. 

Rudisha Not Sure About Tokyo Olympics

David Rudisha is a two time Olympic and world champion, he is the current world record holder in 800m. Simply the best ever in 800m.

However, we may not see him in Tokyo because Rudisha is yet to decide on whether he will compete in Tokyo or not. His participation depends on his training, which has been rocky since Rio with a string of injuries. We would love to see Rudisha in Tokyo and go for his third Olympic title. That would be historic. 

Kamworor’s 7 Treadmill Training Tips

During lockdown three-time world half marathon champion and two-time world cross country gold medallist Geoffrey Kamworor began using a treadmill at home and has continued to do so as part of his rehabilitation from a motorbike injury he suffered in June.

Here are his seven top treadmill training tips. 

Is Wave Light Tech Like Doping?

5000m world champion Hellen Obiri says the use of wave light technology for selected athletes is giving them unfair advantage. Obiri notes that wave light technology is making athletes a little lazy in training, she equates it to doping. She prefers pace setter world records over the 10,000m broken by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei and 5,000m set by Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey.

Hero’s Welcome for Valencia Champion

Song and dance welcomed Valencia Marathoner Evans Chebet when he returned to his rural home. As tradition, he was given Mursik – fermented milk variant of the Kalenjin people of Kenya. Chebet has set his sights on the Olympics Games slated for next year in Tokyo, hoping Athletics Kenya will select him. 

Kenyan marathon team selection is an opaque process that many athletes and fans find frustrating. But with his 2:03:00 in Valencia being one of the top performances of 2020, it’s hard to see how Athletics Kenya could leave him off the team. 

To Non-Kenya news

Sara Hall runs the second Fastest Marathon in American History 

London marathon runner-up Sara Hall and Martin Hehir were the winners of the Marathon Project, a specially-organised event in Arizona designed for fast times on a closed looped course. Hall, the favourite to win the women’s race, went through the halfway mark in 1:09:38 and crossed the line in 2:20:32, her personal best and making her the second fastest woman on the list of American marathoners behind Deena Kastor.

Tips on Hip Stretches When You Feel Crazy Tight

Being a couch potato, spending time watching TV or sitting on your desktop to work doesn’t do our bodies any justice. You are more likely to experience hip tightness because of this especially now that this pandemic has more people work from home,   Amanda Nurse, an elite marathoner and running coach gives some hip stretches that will help you loosen up.  

From Us At Enda

Happy festive season from all of us. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you enjoy the festive break but don’t forget to put on your running shoes and get out ☺

Our fulfilment will slow down over the holidays, so orders right now will take a few more days to get to you. Thanks for your patience and for continuing to Run Kenyan. 

From the Enda Community

We saw some new members of the Enda community celebrating getting their shoes over on twitter, so thought we’d share some of that joy: 

 

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