Kenyan Cheruiyot regrets ruined season due to coronavirus

NAIROBI - Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot says the COVID-19 pandemic has ruined her training regime as she is reduced to one training session a day.

Cheruiyot, 36, was hoping to achieve her dream of conquering the ultimate race at the Tokyo Games, as part of the Kenya marathon team.

However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 organizers have decided to postpone the games to 2021.

She was also part of the elite team due to compete at the London Marathon on April 26, but that too has been pushed back.

Now Cheruiyot, speaking from Eldoret, says her main concern is to stay safe with her family as she hopes for better times whenever the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic has improved.

"For now we need to keep on praying hard for Coronavirus spread to be under control or to get away, then other things will follow," said Cheruiyot on Tuesday.

Probed about her plans for the 2021 Olympics, Cheruiyot reiterated that her major concern is the health and safety of her family and she only trains when it is safe and convenient.

"Currently, I am doing well with my family. My prayer is to get back to normalcy. This coronavirus has hit us hard," Cheruiyot added.

Cheruiyot was to anchor Kenya's marathon team at the Tokyo 2020 Games, which also features world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei (2:14.04) and world marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich.