Kenya's Tanui eyes gold at World Cross Country

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-18 04:04:32|Editor: yan
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NAIROBI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Paul Tanui targets to break the jinx and win the elusive gold medal in 2019 at the World Cross Country Championships.

The 28-year-old, hopes to make the Kenya team to the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30, returning to the competition for the first time since finishing second in Punta Umbria, Spain in 2011.

"I will not relent or give up despite failing to win gold medal for the last six years. I know I will finally crack it, be it at the next World Championships event in 2019 Qatar or the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games," said Tanui on Thursday.

On the track, Tanui, who is based in Japan, had his World Championships debut at 2011 Daegu where he finished ninth, won his first bronze in 2013 in Moscow before posting a similar result at the 2015 Beijing championships and two years ago in London.

He said he will not be going to gear up to road race as he has unfinished business in cross country and the track competitions.

"I will not move to road running soon as many would expect," said Tanui.

However, that can wait as he launched his campaign to make the Kenya team for the IAAF permitted International Cross-Country Race on Saturday in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Kenya's trials for the World Cross Country Championships will be held in Eldoret in February before the team moves to residential training camp in Embu. Kenya faces stiff challenge from Ethiopia, Uganda, Bahraini and United States in quest to hold firm the overall title of the competition.

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