‘Pastor’ Tanui says his place in squad is the ‘work of God’

Paul Tanui, the eighth finisher in last year’s World Cross Country Championships, has termed as the ‘work of God’ his inclusion in the team heading to Punta Umbria, Spain for the world cross country championships.

Tanui, who failed to replicate his strong performance that saw him win the national trials last year, replaced Leonard Komon and has since seized the opportunity, immersed himself into rigorous training hoping it will win him gold in Spain.

“I had given up. But then, the coach called me and now I’m in the team. The rest is not important, what is crucial is to help Kenya retain both the team and individual titles in the senior men race,” he said.

Team pastor

Tanui has since been ordained as the team pastor and will lead his congregate in prayers whenever it is required.

“My strong faith has helped me reach this far. I wanted to win gold last year, but that was not to be. Now I have the chance to amend that and see that Kenya retains this gold medal, which has for long been won by other athletes,” he said.

The senior men 12km team is bubbling with confidence and it is not only Tanui who has his eyes cast on the silverware. However, it is only Tanui, now based in Japan, who will be making a successive return to the world cross country championship on March 20 from last year’s squad. 

The rest - Geoffrey Mutai, Mathew Kisorio, Vincent Kiprop, Philemon Limo and Hosea Macharinyang - missed out last year.

Depth in talent

There was no room for even defending champion Joseph Ebuya, a confirmation of the depth in talent that Kenya boost of. And all the six do not take for granted the chance they have to represent the country in Punta Umbria, Spain.

“It is not easy to say who will win from this team. Again we do not know the class of challenge our opponents will line up. The senior men race is a tough call and we focus on what we have rather than what we do not or what others are doing. We will meet on the course and I believe, my athletes will emerge triumphant,” he said.

Ankle injury

Mathew Kisorio, the 2008 world junior 5,000m silver medalist returns to cross country after a year out because of an ankle injury is good for him.

Last year, he was sixth in the national trials and even had a call to the national team but was kept out by the injury.

“It serves me justice to return this time round. Am now stronger and matured and I will do my best,” he said.

His maturity has also come with more responsibility - he is captain of the team and he ready for the extra duty.

Kisorio’s father Some Muge, won Kenya’s first medal world cross country championships, a bronze medal in Gateshead, England 1983.