Nyaruai decries suspension of sporting activities
Fast-rising athlete Mary Nyaruai is feeling hard done after the suspension of all sporting activities in the country.
The suspension in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic saw the athlete put on hold her dream of getting a new personal best in her speciality event 5,000m besides trying to secure Olympics qualification time.
“The suspension of sporting activities will definitely peg me back big time. I am currently in top form and felt I was going for Olympics qualifying time in 5k during the third AK weekend meeting which has now been postponed. With the uncertainties, I fear my form will dip.
Also it will be hard to get invitations to feature races outside the country. It is challenging because running is my only source of livelihood,” said Nyaruai.
The athlete competed at the first Athletics Kenya Track and Field meeting in Nairobi two months ago finishing third in a competitive field won by two-time national cross country winner Sheila Chelangat.
“I was up against athletes who have represented the country at the global stage.
For me being able to fight and finish third was indeed good. I feel that with more races, I can be able to better my best time if 15:35 in 5k,” she added.
Nyaruai, who is among the few athletes from the Turkana community living in Nyandarua, also won the county’s cross country in January before finishing second at the central region event held in February.
“I can say my season at the cross country was good. The nationals were very competitive. Hopefully one day I will don Kenyans colours abroad,” she added.
Having finished fourth in the national trials and missed out on the 2019 world championships in Doha, Nyaruai wants to challenge for a place for the senior Africa Championships set for June in Algeria.
“I feel that I am also able to make it to the team. My only hope is that sporting activities will resume soon so that we can continue to train and prepare better.”
