Simiu optimistic of a successful Budapest outing

National 5000m champion Daniel Simiu Ebenyo has been registered for a double ahead of the Athletics Kenya (AK) world championship trials set for Friday and Saturday at Nyayo Stadium.

Having hit qualifying times for both 5000m and 10,000m, Simiu, in an interview with World Athletics intimated that he is likely to go for the longer distance at the global event set for 19 to 27 August.

Crème de la crème of Kenya’s Athletics set to clash for World Championship slots

But first, the 27-year-old has to battle for a place in Team Kenya against the likes of Diamond League reigning champion Nicholas Kimeli who already has his wild card but must feature in the trials to be selected.

“I hope to make the team for the World Championships. This time I want to come back with a medal. With good preparation and great teamwork, I am hopeful the gold medal will go to Kenya this time. When one Kenyan wins, it is a victory for all of us,” he told world athletics.

Simiu was part of Team Kenya to last year’s competition held in Oregon, making his debut after missing out in 2019 due to anti-doping restrictions. He reached the 5000m final in Oregon but missed out on the podium, finishing tenth.

He won silver in 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games, a performance he rates as the best in his career so far.

“Kiplimo is currently among the big threats in the men’s 10,000m, so finishing second to him in Birmingham was the best moment in my life and in my running career,” says simiu, who finished second to Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo at the Commonwealth Games. “My other big moment was at the World Indoor Championships, where I finished fourth in 3000m. Those two races gave me a lot of inspiration and motivation.”

In addition to Kimeli, Simiu is also up against 5000m world silver medalist Jacob Krop, former world U20 bronze medalist Levy Kibet, Robert Kiprop and Raphael Dapash who trailed him at the national championships for silver and bronze among others for the 5000m ticket.

If he decides to try out for 10,000m, Simiu will battle against world silver medalist Stanley Waithaka, in-form Sebastian Kimaru, former world half marathon record holder who won the national title Kibiwott Kandie, among others.

Athletes who wish to double will be allowed to do so, however, the decision to double at the world championships will be a preserve of a 10-person selection panel headed by AK’s head of competitions Paul Mutwii.

In Budapest, the 10,000m men’s final runs on Sunday 20 August while the 5000m heats are set for 24 August with the final scheduled for the last day of action 27 August making it possible for the athletes to double.