Former Africa cross country bronze medalist Charles Mneria will forgo the World Cross Country in favour of the African Games in Ghana and the Paris Olympic Games.
Mneria, the 2019 Africa Beach Games half marathon silver medallist, said he is targeting the 10,000m title in Accra after registering a Did Not Finish during the 2019 edition in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In Morocco, Mneria chose to parade for the start despite being unwell, which only served to aggravate an injury he had borne since 2016.
“I want to run 10,000m at these championships (African and Olympic Games). My recovery (from a leg injury) is progressing well. I hope to be fully fit by competition time. If my body responds well, I will go for a medal,” he said.
Fresh from winning his second marathon in Malaga, Spain, last month, Mneria said his immediate focus is the Kenya Prisons Service Cross Country Championships set for January 20 at the Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru.
“I started training a few days ago for the Prisons’ cross country, which will be my first race this year. This will form part of my preparations for the African Games and the Paris Olympic Games,” said Mneria.
Once he bags a ticket to Paris, Mneria said he will be keen to avoid the 2016 debacle that saw him placed in the 5,000m race as opposed to his preferred 10,000m.
“It was a very difficult moment for me because I was preparing for the 10,000m then suddenly I was told that I am supposed to run in the 5,000m. I finished in a disappointing 11th position. That is now water under the bridge but I hope it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The all-surface runner has had a smooth run on the roads too where he has won two of his three marathons, finishing second in the other.
“It (marathon running) has been good for me. I finished second on my debut at the Nairobi City Marathon before winning the Munister Marathon in Germany and then in Malaga, Spain,” he said.
He clocked 2:09:06 in Munister, followed by compatriots Martin Cheruyiot (2:11:20) and Cornelius Kibiwott (2:11:51) in an all-Kenyan podium sweep.
In Malaga, he clocked 2:08:54 ahead of Moroccan Abdelilah Elmainouni (2:09:48) as another Kenyan, Musa Mitei finished third ( 2:11:31).
