Athletics Kenya demanding an explanation from Polish Athletics Federation as Kosgei shares her harrowing experience

She shares her harrowing experience even as top athletes vilify the race organisers.

Kosgei says ‘it was a race to hell and back’ in Polish city

Recho Kosgei’s mood on arrival from Poland was very telling after her chilling experience at the Warsaw Marathon on Sunday where she collapsed and went unattended.

The 32-year-old athlete, who hails from Chemuswa village in Nandi County, narrated her ordeal to Standard Sports.

“I was really disappointed because I took almost 10 minutes to get help. It was like going to hell and back. I will live to fight another day,” said Kosgei yesterday on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

“I suffered fatigue since I did not pick water between 30km and 40km, which weakened me. I now feel good.”

Japhet Kosgei, who was a pace-setter in the men’s race, said: “I dropped from 32km and boarded the van to finish line only to hear the saddening story. I wasn’t happy with the organisers’ poor response.”

Hanna Van de Veen of Dutch based Volare Sports, who manages Recho Kosgei, told Standard Sports on phone from Amsterdam yesterday: “It was a bad a situation. It was unfortunate. Although such situations do happen, Kosgei’s case shocked me.”

Kosgei’s case sparked furious reactions from Athletics Kenya (AK).

Paul Mutwii, AK vice president in charge of competitions, said they would write to the Polish Athletics Federation, demanding answers from the organisers on why the athlete was left unattended for such a long time.

“From what we watched, it seems the route was not properly marked. There are always medical support teams along the route and we were surprised to see Recho struggling without anybody to attend to her,” said Mutwii.

A video of Recho lying on the ground struggling alone, drew angry reactions from Kenyans.

Former KTN Sports news anchor Saddique Shaban on his Twitter handle said: “Why would @iaaf Bronze Label event allow such travesty? What if she were a local athlete? Would she be left fighting for her life?

Benjamin Limo, the immediate former IAAF Athlete Representative, said it was clear that there were no support medical mechanisms in the race.

“The duration of the video clip tells a lot about the drama in that race. I suspect there were problems in provision of water. The Polish Athletics Federation must explain why it let this happen.

“The IAAF Road Running Commission should institute a probe into this and come up with a report. It’s not an isolated case but it took time for the athlete to get help,” said Limo.

Moses Tanui, the two-time Boston Marathon winner, said road running rules must cover the athletes’ security on road or any against any incident.

“Race permits are always issued after such conditions have been met. There was no rescue team, not even nurses and first-aiders. It’s now up to AK to demand an explanation,” said Tanui.

In 2015, Kenyan marathoner Kenyan marathon runner Hyvon Ngetich lost her bid to win the 2015 Austin Marathon after she collapsed with less than 50m to the finish line.

Ngetich started losing steam with about two kilometres remaining. She, however, continued running while stumbling and seemingly weak.