Africa Cross Country championships postponed

The 6th African Cross Country Championships that was slated for March 6-7 in Lome, Togo has been postponed to a later date.

In a statement, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) said the organisers of the event took the action to postpone the continental event due to Covid-19 concerns in the Togolese capital.

“The previously planned to take place on 6 and 7 March 2021 in Lomé (Togo) is postponed to a later date. The announcement was made by the Confederation of African Athletics following a request by the Togolese authorities who raised sanitary measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the statement.

This is the second time the event is being postponed as it was initially planned to be held in March last year due to the presidential elections at the West African nation.

The new development comes as a big blow to the athletes who were preparing to compete at the bi-annual event.

Kenya had already selected her team for the event at the national trials that were held on February 13. The team is currently in a residential training camp in Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu.

The West African nation has so far reported 6,548 coronavirus cases with 5,447 recoveries and 82 deaths.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya (AK) has cautioned athletes against participating in this year’s Kilimanjaro Marathon that is set to be held on February 28.

The federation said it will not clear athletes to compete in the race due to Covid-19 situation in neighbouring Tanzania.

“This is to inform our athletes that due to the global outbreak and spread of Covid-19, Athletics Kenya will not be issuing authorization for athletes’ participation at the 2021 Kilimanjaro Marathon to be held in Tanzania on 28^th February, 2021,” AK said in a statement.