Trailblazing Tanki wins Machakos X-Country meet

Julius Tanki celebrates before crossing the finish line to win the 10km senior men during the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Championship at Machakos Teachers College on November 17, 2018. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • The 21-year-old went all guns blazing from the gun, taking command of the race from the first lap. Tanki would open a gap of over 300m before winning in in 30 minutes and 26.90 seconds.
  • Tanki, who finished third in Ndalat Gaa Cross Country last month in Eldoret, edged out Reuben Korir to second place in 31:10.96 as Isaac Yego romped home third in 31:13.08.

The trailblazing Julius Tanki from Bomet destroyed both the strong field and hot conditions to win the first leg of Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series in Machakos on Saturday.

The 21-year-old went all guns blazing from the gun, taking command of the race from the first lap. Tanki would open a gap of over 300m before winning in in 30 minutes and 26.90 seconds.

Tanki, who finished third in Ndalat Gaa Cross Country last month in Eldoret, edged out Reuben Korir to second place in 31:10.96 as Isaac Yego romped home third in 31:13.08.

Tanki has now trained his sights on winning at the National Cross Country Championships due February before extending his reign at the World Cross Country Championships planned for March 30 in Aarhus, Denmark.

"I finished 17th in the junior race during the Nationals but I feel much stronger having moved to senior ranks," said Tanki, who will then move to track with the intentions of representing the country in 5,000m at the African Games in August and World Championships in October in Doha. "I really want to fly the Kenyan flag for the first time next year as I also target the 2020 Tokyo Olympics."