Floods sweep athletes out of training venues

Eldoret athletes have abandoned training in several grounds and opted for the roadsides due to the continued rain that has drenched almost all other training grounds in Uasin Gishu and Elgeiyo-Marakwet counties.

Most of training grounds like University of Eldoret, formerly Chepkoilel, Kipkeino Stadium and Kimariny have become waterlogged with the long rains expected to continue over the coming months.


“We have been forced to abandon Chepkoilel training grounds and train on the roads because the track is muddy and slippery. It is not possible to use the stadium for speedwork,” said Gideon Mageka, the 2010 World junior 1500m gold medal winner. Mageka, 18, who represented Kenya and participated in the 1,500m in Italy, said they have been forced to resort to other forms of training to enable them prepare for various events locally and abroad.

The former junior champion was in a group of hundreds of elite runners who had turned up for speed training at their preferred track but folded their spikes and took to the road to work on alternative speed workout on Thursday.

Disappointed runner.
Steeplechaser Jairus Kipchoge was another disappointed runner.

“I drove all the way to Eldoret hopping the University track was better. I had to turn back at the gate with my friend Elijah Morogo. Our training is being hampered by raging floods,” added Kipchoge as he drove out of town to train on Annex-Plateau road with his friends.

The athletes appealed to the Government to hasten the upgrading of stadia like Kipchoge Keino in Eldoret and Kapsabet, Kamariny in Iten and Chepkoilel.

“We will be very grateful if the Government upgrade these tracks because some of us train individually and cannot afford hiring vehicles to take us to some alternative training fields,” Mageka added.

Joseph Kering, who also trains individually on the same track, said their dreams as young upcoming athletes are being frustrated due lack of adequate training facilities.

Kering told FeverPitch that many youths have recently been trying to compete in local Athletics Kenya tracks and field meetings but would not achieve their goals because of inadequate training grounds.

Source: Standard Digital News