Simiu eyeing improved performance in Chicago Marathon debut

World 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Simiu Ebenyo is gearing up for a stellar Chicago Marathon debut after a promising second-place finish at the Uasin Gishu half marathon on Sunday.

The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is slated for October 13.

The Iten-based athlete will be hoping to bounce back from a low period, where he failed to feature in the Paris 2024 Olympics following an eighth-place finish during the Prefontaine Classic.

The athlete tripped and fell during the competition, and even before taking part in the event, Simiu said he faced a number of administrative challenges, including delay of his visa.

The Uasin Gishu half marathon was his first competition since the heartbreak, and he came in second in 60:14, behind Joshua Kithuku who claimed the honors in 60:00. Abraham Kiptum completed the podium in 60:50.

Speaking after the race, Simiu noted that he is determined to make a strong impression in his first full marathon.

“I am excited to compete in the Chicago Marathon. I know it will be tough and the distance will be long. I will be approaching it with respect because I am new there and I will do my best. Starting with the World Majors, it is exciting. I thank the Chicago organizers and Nike Running for this chance. I know it has big names, but I am equally a big name,” he told Mozzart Sport.

Simiu ended his 2023 by winning the Kolkata 25km race in a course record and world-best time, making 2023 one of his glorious years. He missed the 25km world record by just five seconds.

The result seemed to propel him to achieve greater heights this year.

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The 28-year-old entered 2024 with a bang, keen to win everything there is to be won.

He started the year on a high, winning the Campaccio International Cross-Country race held in San Giorgio Legnano, Italy on January 6 by clocking 26:19.

Following that, the star won his maiden National Police Cross Country Championships on January 19 after finishing in 29:48:49. It was during that race that he ran the last 300m bare-chested after removing his jersey and waving it all the way.

During the Sirikwa Classic, Simiu was in a class of his own. Despite starting slowly, he finished impressively, shining in 29:16, narrowly ahead of Ishmael Kipkurui, who completed the race in 29:18, while Weldon Lagat completed the podium in 29:26.

Not even a stitch in the second lap would stop him from overtaking his opponents during the race. His impressive performance sent one message to the athletics world, 'he is ready for the world.'

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Simiu's continued gradual rise started in 2022 when he settled for silver in 5,000m at the Africa Athletics Championships in Mauritius. He lost the top slot to Ethiopian Hailemariyan Amare.

The same year, during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Simiu claimed silver in the 10,000m.

His consistency continued when he settled for silver in the 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest to earn Kenya her first medal.

Meanwhile, in the ladies’ category, reigning Nairobi City Marathon champion Naomi Jebet was crowned the winner of the second edition of the Uasin Gishu Half marathon.

Jebet stopped the timer at 70:03 ahead of Ugandan Violah Chemos (70:19) and Gladys Chepkurui completing the podium at 70:35.