Kenyan Edward Zakayo to use France Continental Tour as build-up for Budapest

Former Commonwealth Games 5,000m bronze medalist Edward Zakayo will compete at the Meeting International de la Martinique Continental Tour set for next week in France.

The former world under-20 5,000m champion said he wants to use the France race as a build-up for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Speaking in Iten after competing in the Iten 15km Road race on Sunday, the former Africa 5000m champion said he has also been competing in road races just to enhance his career path and build on his endurance. 

“Today’s race was just but part of my training ahead of the Continental Tour in France,” said Zakayo, who finished 19th in the race that attracted over 500 athletes.

Zakayo stormed into the limelight in 2017 when he won 5,000m silver at the world Under 18 championships.

He added bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, and added the world Under-20 5,000m title in Tampere, Finland.

He completed the year with gold at the Africa Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria in 2018.

“For me to make Team Kenya to Budapest, I need to work hard this season. I missed the cut last year but I want to do my best this year,” said Zakayo.

He also won silver at the 2019 All Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco before venturing into road races. “My new venture in road running is earning fruits and I hope this will continue,” he said.

posted Thursday May 18th
by Emmanuel Sabuni