Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the current champion and record holder of the 2023 Okpekpe International 10km Road Race, is gearing up for his marathon debut at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend in Chicago, USA.
The Kenyan athlete made headlines with his remarkable 28:28 finish, which set a new course record at the Okpekpe event. He has joined a distinguished lineup of runners confirmed by the marathon organizers and is keen to emulate his fellow Kenyan, Evans Rutto, who made a splash with the fastest marathon debut when he won the 2003 Chicago Marathon with an incredible time of 2:05:50.
At just 28 years old, Ebenyo is looking to replicate Rutto’s success, but he will face tough competition from several fellow Kenyans and Ethiopian runners. Among those expected to challenge him are Amos Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich, both boasting impressive personal bests of 2:03:13. Kipruto will be stepping into his first marathon this year, while Ngetich recently placed third at the Tokyo Marathon in March with a time of 2:04:18.
Ethiopian runner Birhanu Legese is another serious contender who could disrupt Ebenyo’s plans for a triumphant debut. Legese has a personal best of 2:02:48 from the 2019 Berlin Marathon and recently clocked in at 2:05:16, securing second place at the NN Marathon Rotterdam in April.
It’s worth noting that Ebenyo ranks among only 18 athletes in history who have completed a 10km road race in under 27 minutes. Additionally, he has demonstrated his prowess on the track with a sub-27 minute time in the 10,000m and boasts a half marathon personal best of 59:04. All of this sets the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating marathon debut.
