Rwanda long distance runner, Pontien Ntawuyirushintege has vowed to win as many Italian athletics competitions as possible to keep flying the country’s flag high this year.

So far in the 2018 season, the 29-year-old athlete has won two races. The first was on January 14 when he claimed Terni half-Marathon in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 31 seconds and on February 4 when he defied odds to bag the top prize in Mezza Marathona di Bergamo, clocking 1 hour and 1 minute in half-marathon.

Talking to Times Sport from Italy on Wednesday, Ntawuyirushintege said he is having a good start of the 2018 season and has no plan to slow down.

"I am enjoying my career here in Rome, 2018 is going to be an exciting year. I have won two competitions in 2018 and hopefully I keep getting better and winning more races. Flying high my country’s flag is what motivates me to keep working hard,” Ntawuyirushintege told this paper.

The former APR athletics club runner who currently races for Athletic Terni, Ntawuyirushintege holds a personal best of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 20 seconds, which he posted in the 2013 Kigali International Peace Marathon.

The athletics sensation started his international career in 2010 in the 800 metres and ever since, he has progressively ascended in ranks, moving from short distance to middle and long distance athletics over the years. Currently, he only races in 10,000 metres and half-marathon events.

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