Daniel Ebenyo’s heartfelt appeal after stunning Chicago marathon debut

Promising star Daniel Ebenyo Simiu has issued a heartfelt appeal to Athletics Kenya (AK) to include him in the marathon team for the 2025 Tokyo World Championships slated for Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September in Japan.

Simiu made a remarkable debut at the Chicago Marathon, where he clocked an impressive 2:06:04, placing fifth. He is confident that if given a chance, he can deliver a medal for Kenya on the world stage.

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“I’m pleading with AK to include me in the marathon team because I’m serious about the marathon. Chicago was my first, and I think I’m going to do my best.

I’m pleading with AK to give me a chance in the marathon team,” Simiu said in an interview with Athletics Arena TV.

Considering his exploits, Simiu could live up to the billing if given the chance.

His 2024 season was nothing short of dramatic. After a strong start to the year, he faced heartbreak during the Olympic qualifiers at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

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A visa delay caused him to arrive late, and during the men’s 10,000m race, he fell and finished eighth, missing his chance to compete in Paris.

Following the setback, the 2024 Sirikwa Cross Country champion decided to skip the 5,000m trials and focus on his marathon debut.

Before his Chicago performance, he showcased his versatility with notable results, including third place at the B.A.A. 10K and second at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race.

Simiu’s stellar year began on Sunday 6 January 2024 when he claimed victory at the Campaccio International Cross-Country race in San Giorgio Legnano, Italy, with a time of 26:19.

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Two weeks later, he won his first National Police Cross Country Championship, finishing in 29:48. His memorable finish included a dramatic gesture: running the final 300 meters bare-chested while waving his jersey.

In February, he continued his winning streak at the Sirikwa Classic, overtaking his competitors in the final stretch despite battling a mid-race stitch. Ebenyo’s finishing time of 29:16 was enough to edge out Ishmael Kipkurui and Weldon Lagat.

His preparation for the Paris Olympics included a victory at the Berlin Half Marathon, underscoring his transition to longer distances. However, fate intervened with the visa delay that disrupted his Olympic dreams.

The 29-year-old’s rise in athletics began in 2022 when he claimed silver in the 5,000m at the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius, narrowly losing to Ethiopia’s Hailemariyam Amare. Later that year, he added another silver in the 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

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His transition to the marathon has been nothing short of inspiring.