Ethiopia’s ‘town of runners’ tries to outpace the pandemic

Hanna posing for a picture after a training session in a forest in the village of Bekoji, Ethiopia. Photo: AFP

Just eight months ago, 16-year-old Hanna Awugichew believed she was well on her way to becoming Ethiopia’s next elite runner, having qualified for a national competition in the 400m dash.

But the coronavirus pandemic threw an obstacle in her path, prompting officials to cancel the race and, under a nationwide state of emergency, place restrictions on how athletes could train.