Paul Tanui not quitting the track just yet, Karoki opts out

Frome left: Kenya's Bedan Karoki Muchiri, Uganda's Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei, Britain's Mo Farah and Kenya's Paul Kipngetich Tanui compete in the final of the men's 10,000m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 4, 2017. PHOTO | ADRIAN DENNIS |

What you need to know:

  • Karoki announces shift to marathon.
  • Chase for elusive gold continues for bronze medallist

IN LONDON

He may have been frustrated with his third consecutive world 10,000m bronze medal in London on Friday but Kenya’s Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui has said he will not quit the track until he strikes gold.

“I will not move to road running soon as many would expect,” said the 26-year-old Tanui, who claimed bronze in season’s best 26:50.60, losing the battle again to history-making Great Britain’s Mo Farah, who claimed a record a hat-trick of wins over the distance at the World Championships.

This even as Bedan Karoki, who failed to get a medal on the track on his fifth appearance at a championship after finishing fourth on Friday night, announced that he will now focus on marathon with a view of competing at the 2019 Qatar World Championships and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Tanui, who is based in Japan, won his first bronze in 2013 in Moscow before posting a similar result at the 2015 Beijing championships.

“I will not relent or give up yet since I know I will finally crack it, be it at the next World event in 2019 Qatar or the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Tanui, who also lost last year’s Rio Olympics 10,000m battle to Farah as he settled for silver.

“I shall be there in 2021 Eugene, God willing, for that elusive victory,” said Tanui, who made his World Championships debut at 2011 Daegu where he finished ninth.

Tanui also applauded his team mates for giving it a good shot in London, noting that luck and Farah’s great form worked against them.

“We ran as a team but Farah came prepared and looked calm all through.”

“There will be no more track races for me,” said Karoki, adding that Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is a good success story where he will draw inspiration from.

Karoki, who finished fourth in London, had settled sixth in 2013 Moscow and fourth in 2015 Beijing.

He was fifth at 2012 London Olympics and fourth at 2016 Rio Olympics.

Karoki, who ran A personal best of 26:52.12 on Friday, made his marathon debut in April in London where he clocked A personal best OF 2:07:41 for third.

But first things first, Karoki will ran his second marathon race in Fukuoka in December.

“I will aim to improve my personal best but my long term goal is to break the world record one day,” said Karoki.