"It will be a tough race but I will do my best.

I had to go for it. Even though it looked like a long shot, it was my only shot – that’s how I saw it so I went for it, and here I am.

At this point in my career I enter each race with a heightened sense of urgency and have become very selective in what races I'm willing to commit my time and energy to.

I must walk right up to my last moment.

Founders run every sprint as if they’re about to lose, but grind out the long race knowing that victory is inevitable.

I am fighting always until the end, Nothing is lost until the finish of the competition. I knew that I would fight and I knew that I would throw more, that's what I knew.

Today was a tough day. It was going to be a war of attrition and I knew that from the gun. I figured if we're going to hurt we might as well run fast.

In the middle of the race I had to be patient and had to wait for the right time. I knew I trained well, and today I can say it was my time...Moving from track to the road racing was a big challenge for me. In track there was not a lot of mileage.

The ultimate goal was competing in the Olympic Games and that was a tough one

It was my dream to win the coveted title. But I was not sure I could make it simply because I knew that the contest was very tight and each of us had the same aim,”

He emphasized that I must maintain my speed for the first 300 metres, and then give it my all in the last 100 metres. He said that if I ran the first 300 metres at full speed, Spence would do the same, although that was not his running strategy.

I tried to do what was necessary but it wasn’t working. So I put my mind just trying to cope with the pace and just to finish...A lot of thought was going on in my mind but I said, ‘Hey, I can’t quit.’ I’ve been in this sport for a long (time). They say it’s important to win, but it’s great to participate and finish.

I didn’t know I was going to win because the race was tough. I used my mind and decided to be patient...We had the Ethiopians in the races before and we saw they are strong on the hills. This was the last chance, I don’t think I’m going to go for another World Cross-Country.

I knew I wasn't the favorite [at Trials] and I had to put in the work to make sure I came out successful. But I believe in one thing: 'Go hard or suffer the rest of your life'.