LOCAL athletes have shifted their focus to next year’s Olympic Games in London.

After an awful display in Sunday’s World Cross Country Championship in Punta Umbria, the athletes want to make amends in upcoming races.

Gervais Hakizimana, who emerged as Rwanda’s top performer after finishing 33rd, is already eyeing a much more clinical show in the world athletics championship due in Daegu, South Korea.

With the help of his coach Philippe Plancke, Hakizimana is confident he will get the minimum qualification time to compete in the 3000m steeplechase during the London Games.

The trio of Eric Sebahire, Claudette Mukasakindi and Angelline Nyiransabimana will also compete in the Italian long distance championship.

Meanwhile, Sylvain Rukundo, Alphonsine Agahozo (swimmer), Jean Maurice Bikorimana (boxer) and two-time Olympian Epiphanie Nyirabarame have secured international Olympic scholarships.

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