Fresh from winning the Cardiff Cross Challenge title, 2018 World Under-20 5000m champion Edward Zakayo is not resting on his laurels as he shifts focus to next year’s World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.
Zakayo obliterated a strong field to cruise to victory in the men’s race in 26:20. Ugandans Joel Ayeko and Rogers Kibet placed second and third in 26:23.
The 2019 Africa under-20 5000m champion said he will take a break before resuming training in a quest to make Team Kenya’s contingent to Bathurst.
“My focus now is to secure a slot to represent the country at the World Cross-Country Championships next year…that is my big goal. I will take a short break and then resume training in preparation for the same,” he said.
He added that he will be seeking to compete in some local competitions with fellow countrymen in order to build momentum ahead of next year.
Zakayo also said his win was unexpected, owing to the fact that he has had a busy season and has not been at his best.
He participated at the Commonwealth Games in August, where he placed fourth in the 10,000m distance in 27:39.03.
In July, Zakayo won the Night of Athletics competitions in Belgium and BoXX United Manchester World Athletics Continental Tour in 13:06.29 and 13:13.03 respectively.
“The race was good but I felt like I was not in form. I have had a busy season which saw me travel a lot with little training. I was expecting to place second or third but all in all, I am grateful,” he said.
In the women’s race, Pamela Kosgei obliterated a strong field to win the race in 20:21. Great Britain duo of Amelia Quirk and Jessica Gibbon placed second and third in 20:34 and 20:44 respectively.
