Kimaiyo tips Zakayo for athletics greatness
Coach Eric Kimaiyo has tipped World U-20 5,000m champion Edward Pingua Zakayo for greatness.
Kimaiyo a former marathoner has singled out the African Games silver medallist as one with bright prospects for the future, able to fit in the footsteps of world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
Kimaiyo who has been running the Kapsait Athletics Training camp in Elgeyo Marakwet County, for 20 years singled out Zakayo as one of his athletes with huge potential.“When I see Zakayo I see a younger Eliud, one of the perfect examples of athletes who have transitioned well from the track to the marathon. What many athletes fail to take note of is fame doesn’t come overnight.
“Athletes are going for quick fame which is turning out to be a huge shortcoming. While road races have money, we should tell our athletes to be patient and wait for the right time, it is not good to rush yourself,” added Kimaiyo.
Zakayo who announced his entry to global athletics at the 2017 IAAF World U-18 Championships in Nairobi where he settled for a silver medal in 3,000m, has been growing stride-by-stride according to his coach.“Since shooting to the limelight, his has been an case of an athlete on the upward trajectory,” Kimaiyo referenced Zakayo who won bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia behind winner Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and Mohammed Ahmed (Canada).
“We keep telling him to go easy on himself, missing the championships was not his fault. For an athlete who was under medication but still managed to finish among the top-10 in tough Kenyan trials is something he should be proud about,” added the coach.
For Zakayo who is a Form Four student at Kapsait Secondary School, his main target for the coming season is making to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics team with the aim of bring gold to Kenya.
