Habari za Wiki- 28th December, 2021
The Running News
With the most recent Covid variant, there has been yet another whirlwind increase in cases across the globe. It remains to be seen how Covid concerns may likely affect athletic events going into 2022. Despite the pandemic-related challenges we have come to live with, we are hoping the racing calendar cooks up real soon even as we learn to live in this new world.
On to the running news...
New Athletics Shoe Regulations in place
New regulations to replace Technical Rule 5 relating to athletic shoes and its transitional provisions which expire on 31st December 2021 were approved by the council on 22nd December. The regulations include that Thicknesses across all athletic shoes stack a height of 20mm from November 1st, 2024.
World Athletics has revised the shoe regulations that are set to take effect from Monday 1 January 2022 and include a raft of changes with some set to be implemented later to give manufacturers ample time to adjust.
World Athletics also said athletic shoes must not contain any embedded "sensing or intelligent" technology now or in the future.
As we desire to get an athlete to the global competitions scene, our shoes are within these required guidelines check out more here.
Radcliffe’s Gift to Children Battling Cancer
Three-time world half marathon and cross country champion who visited Kenya as part of a community social responsibility mission to raise funds to build a children's cancer facility in Eldoret.
Radcliffe, accompanied by her 14-year-old daughter Isla Lough, who suffers from cancer, flew into Kenya just to be part of the worthy cause.
The 80km race on Friday was a relay from the Equator to Eldoret and saw the athletes change over every 10 or five kilometers.
Former two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui and Haron Langat were the first to hit the road, then after 10Km Tokyo Olympics Bronze medalist, Paul Chelimo accompanied by John Kelai covered the next 10KM.
This paved way for Paula Radcliffe and former world 10,000metres champion Sally Barsosio who participated in the next 5KM.
The final walk was done by Sharon Cheptoo, a 14-year-old undergoing treatment for Leukemia together with Isla towards the hospital entrance where Kipchoge Keino was waiting. The groundbreaking was finally done by Isla who expressed her happiness in the project that will be able to treat and save many children's lives.
Shoe4Africa Founder Toby said they managed to raise funds that will enable the completion of the 152-bed hospital in a year.
Isla Lough (left), her mother Paula Radcliffe (partly hidden), sibling Raphael Lough, Chelimo Saina Tanser (carrying the baton) and Toby Tanser during the Shoe4Africa 80-kilometre relay race in Equator, Timboroa, Uasin Gishu County on December 24, 2021. Photo courtesy of Nation Media.
Non-Kenyan News
Alberto Salazar Loses appeal against US safe sport
Alberto Salazar received a lifetime ban from the US center for safe sport for sexual misconduct in July and later appealed has lost the case. Alberto Salazar’s lifetime ban from involvement in any Olympic or Paralympic sport in the United States has been upheld in the latest blow for the 64-year-old coach.
Sifan Hassan crowned Dutch Sportswoman of the Year
Two-time Olympic Champion was named Dutch sportswoman of the year for the second time in a row.
Hassan who pulled the almost impossible in the Tokyo Olympics winning Gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and a bronze in 1500m became one among very few athletes to have won three individual medals at the Olympics.
I want to run a marathon one year before the Olympic games in Paris in 2024 said Hassan during the award ceremony.