NAIROBI, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan champ Geoffrey Kamworor may be forced to choose between competing at the New York Marathon and the World Half Marathon Championships in November.
This follows the decision by Poland to postpone the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, which was due in Gdynia city on March 29 to October due to the ongoing uncertainty created by the spread of the COVID-19.
Kamworor, who won the World Half marathon on three occasions and is also the New York Marathon reigning champion, said he will have to discuss the issue with his management before deciding where to compete. The New York Marathon will be held on November 1.
"It will be tricky because I intend to defend my crown in New York. But we will discuss it when the time comes," said Kamworor on Friday from Eldoret.
Jack Tuwei, the Athletics Kenya president, said Friday that the uncertainty in sport that has triggered governments to cancel or postpone sports competition is "unfortunate". However, he encouraged the athletes affected to continue training.
"The impact of these postponement and cancelation of races across the globe is immense. It's unfortunate beyond anybody's control," Tuwei said.
"We hope the situation will be contained soon," he added.
Kamworor had withdrawn from the Kenya team to the Africa Cross Country Championships in Lome, Togo to focus on competing in Poland at the World Half marathon.
World Athletics expressed its frustration on the situation.
"The current international situation would have seriously compromised the event at this time as many countries are now restricting international travel, invoking quarantines and advising citizens and event organizers to avoid mass gatherings," World Athletics said in a statement.
"First and foremost, we had to consider the health and well-being of our athletes, officials and spectators in making this decision," it added.
