Rwanda’s teenage long distance runner Jean Marie Vianney Myasiro on Tuesday began an extensive residential training in Gicumbi ahead of the forthcoming 27th edition of Silvesterlauf, a New Year’s Eve race in the southwestern German city of Trier.

The 19-year-old Myasiro will represent Rwanda together with female compatriot Salome Nyirarukundo at the one-day event, the first time Rwandan athletes will be taking part in the international 10km road race.

In a bid to get ready for his remarkable debut, the Mountain Classic Athletics Club athlete Myasiro has opted to camp in the high altitude northern part of Rwanda (Gicumbi) for three weeks to intensify preparations.

"I am training with my team to help get into the mood of the competition, we decided to come to Gicumbi because the area is similar to that in Germany with very cold temperatures so it was a tactical decision to adapt to the environment before the competition,” said Myasiro in an interview with Times Sport on Wednesday

Myasiro will be hoping to add on his current track and field record in 10,000m which he set in July this year during the 2016 IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships that took place in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

He broke a 12-year national record in 10,000m. The youngster clocked 29:26:16 to finish in the 11th place out of 34 athletes, effectively breaking the record of 29:35:41 that was set by Valence Bivahagumye in 2004 in Italy in a similar event.

"I want to work hard and get ready in these three-weeks I have, I don’t know how intense the competition is but personally I am targeting a podium finish and if it fails I should make it to the top five,” said Myasiro

The 10km road race is staged every 31st of December where the best German runners, international athletes, hobby athletes, and senior citizens, celebrate the conclusion of the year.

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