Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medalist Edward Zakayo will give Africa Cross country championships a wide berth to concentrate on Olympic Games set for Tokyo, Japan.
The world under 20 5,000m champion, while competing at the 4th and penultimate of 2019/2020 Athletics Kenya Cross country championships in Kapsokwony, Zakayo said that his focus will be running at Olympics games as he aims to end the 32 year-long wait for Kenyan runner to win gold at Olympic Games last won by John Ngugi in 1988.
The cited that once he competes at Africa championships, he ends up posting poor results at world events.
At the same time he said that he is good on track not so much in cross country as he will give the Lome, Togo championships a wide berth.
“I want to skip Africa cross country and focus on Olympic Games. That is where I really want to be and come home with a medal at least to be proud of,” said the 2017 world under 18 3,000m silver medalist.
The form four student at Kapsait secondary school in Elgeyo Marakwet County added that he had focused on two major events, the world champions that were held in Doha, Qatar and Olympic Games but missed the former due to unavoidable circumstances.
“I missed the world championships and I don’t want to repeat that next year. I want to leave a mark on track. For now, my body is responding well, hoping to do where when the championships come my way,” added the reigning Africa Athletics championships.
Africa under 20 champion if given a chance to compete at the 2020 world under 20 world championships to be staged in Nairobi, it will be a plus on his career.
“By the time the world under 20 championships will be held, I will be one-month younger so I have the obligation to compete but I may be denied that opportunity. That is why I have said if I will be allowed then am ready to defend my title,” added the All Africa Games champion.