Zakayo glad to be back in action after shaking off injury

2018 World Under 20 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo is thrilled to be back in action after recovering from a nagging injury that placed him on the sidelines.

Zakayo who has never represented the country in major championships at the senior level will be hoping to don the Kenyan singlet this year.

If his performance in the recently concluded North Rift region Cross-Country Championships in Kapenguria, West Pokot County over the weekend is anything to go by, the junior champion could be on track to actualize his dream.

He won the 10km senior men's race in 27:47.2 followed by two-time Los Angeles marathon champion John Korir (27:54.5) and newly-crowned Tinderet Mountain running champion Fredrick Domongole (28:04.7).

Speaking after the emphatic win, Zakayo said he was foreseeing a year full of success and scaling to new heights.

With a busy athletics calendar awaiting, the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist pointed out that he aimed to represent the country in the upcoming World Cross Country Championships in Serbia or the Olympic Games.

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The 45th World Athletics Cross Country Championships are slated for March 30 in Belgrade, Serbia while the Paris Olympics Games are scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.

“This is my year after healing from a hip injury. My body is in better shape and I want to compete at the World Championships, World Cross Country, or Olympic Games. I have started the season and I will give my best. The injury is behind me and I can only get better," he assured.

Meanwhile, 2023 half marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline is hopeful that she will feature in the World Cross Country Championships and the Olympic Games.

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Reline won the 2023 Chemususu half marathon in 1:12:18 and is the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships bronze medalist.

"I want to maximize this year by featuring at the World Cross Country championships. It was a pity to miss previous events but now am back with a bang," she said.

It was disappointing to miss the trip to Tokyo but I am banking on proper preparations to make it to Paris," she added.

Reline won the North Rift region cross-country championships title in 31:22.4 followed by Christine Chesiro (31:31.1) and Maureen Jepkoech completed the podium in 32:22.4.