Despite the postponement of some events due to the pandemic, Athletics Kenya is wasting no time in reaching across the nation for participants in the ‘Global Conversation for the Future of Athletics’.

As one of the sport’s giants – in terms of international medals – the national federation is steeped in athletics history. But it is embracing new methods to engage audiences in the unprecedented consultation exercise of athletes, coaches, officials, event organisers, fans and anyone with an interest in athletics.  

South African leadership has stressed the need for “a fresh approach” from within the sport to be articulated through the ‘Global Conversation for the Future of Athletics’.

In reaching out to stakeholders across the nation, Aleck Skhosana, the president of Athletics South Africa, has urged forward-looking participation in the international discussion to lay the foundations for the future for the World Plan for Athletics 2022-2030.

World marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich took 29 seconds off the world record to win the N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon, a World Athletics Elite Label road race, clocking a stunning 1:04:02 in the Turkish city on Sunday (4 april).

The 26-year-old Kenyan, a winner of this race in 2017 and 2019, broke away from Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in the final stages to win by 38 seconds. Two-time world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri was third in 1:04:51 – the fastest debut half marathon in history. It’s the first time three women have finished inside 65 minutes in one half marathon.

World record-holders Joshua Cheptegei, Mondo Duplantis and Brigid Kosgei are among the nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Due to the continuing global pandemic, this year the Laureus Awards will not be presented at an open ceremony. Instead, the winners will be announced in May as part of a virtual awards event.

Kenyan Béatrice Chepkoech broke the 5 world km record in Monaco on Sunday, February 14, 2021, in 14'43 ". She improved on the previous record in a mixed race of 14'48 '' set by Caroline Kipkirui in 2018, and is also a second faster than Sifan Hassan's record of 14''44 for a women-only race, since the 5 km was introduced as a world record in November 2017. Beatrice also holds the world record for the 3000 m steeplechase in 8'44''32 since 2018, also set in Monaco.

The young Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay (24) captured the best mark of all time over 1500m (indoor) in 3'53''09, during the Liévin meeting held on February 9, 2021. She subtracted more than two seconds from the time set by his compatriot Genzebe Dibaba in February 2014 in Karlsruhe (3'55''17). Over the same distance, Tsegay notably won a bronze medal at the last World Championships in Doha.

Kevin Mayer and Evelis Aguilar capped their 2020 campaigns with victories at the Meeting de la Réunion, the opening competition of the 2021 World Athletics Challenge - Combined Events, on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion on Saturday (19 december).

Mayer, the world record-holder, tallied 8552 points to take a convincing victory, and more importantly, securing his qualifying mark for next summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Aguilar, the South American record-holder, collected 6055 points to fend off Estonian Mari Klaup's late challenge by 41 points.

With just five days to go until the World Athletics Awards 2020, the attention of the athletics world now shifts to the annual celebration honouring the world's best athletes whose achievements helped contribute to another unforgettable year for the sport.

Godwin Adongo loves to run. At eight years old, she finds athletics shows more interesting than cartoons and watches the Diamond League for fun. On Saturdays and Sundays, she hits dirt tracks in the Ugandan city of Lira for one-hour drills, honing her skills as a runner.

“I started running when I was three year old,’ says Adongo. “That’s when I first went to school.”