Sports丨Taking training to new heights

文章预览

As dawn breaks over the sleepy town of Iten, its dusty tracks come alive with packs of runners keeping a steady rhythm, often followed by cheerful children headed to school.    Some of the athletes are elite Kenyans. Others travel from farther afield. ▲ Maltese athletes in the company of locals train along the Iten-Kaptagat road in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya, on Jan 31. AP    All are here because this unassuming little town lies at about 2,400 meters above sea level and has produced some of the best long-distance runners in the world.    To cater to the ever-growing interest from both professional and amateur athletes, hotels, lodges and short-stay rental apartments continue to spring up around the town, located 350 kilometers northwest of Nairobi.    "I came to Kenya to experience this elite running community here," said Ryan Mex of Malta.    Mex, a semi-professional runner and coach, brought three athletes with him to get a competitive edge ahead of Malta's mara ………………………………