Summary
– Daniel Ebenyo’s Visa denial jeopardizes Olympic qualification.
– Athletics Kenya faces challenges with Prefontaine Classic selections.
– Beatrice Chebet, Samuel Waithaka among Kenyan hopefuls.
– Lineups for 10,000m and other races at Prefontaine Classic.
– Mary Moraa to compete in 800m.
World 10,000 silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo Simiyu may miss out on Olympic Qualification after a Visa denial ahead of the Prefontaine Classic meet in Oregon.
Ebenyo headlines a probable 14-man Kenyan lineup in the 10,000m race which will also double as Athletics Kenya’s Olympic team selection for Paris this year.
Others Not Granted Visas
Others who have not been granted Visas as per today are Selah Jepleting, world U20 champion Benson Kiplagat and world half marathon record holder Loice Chemnung who is in blistering form this year.
The development bites into Athletics Kenya who will be looking to quickly solve the hitch after the move to have the 10k Olympic qualifiers held in Oregon attracted criticism from stakeholders.
Beatrice Chebet To Lead Team
World cross country and 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet will headline a field of 13 Kenyans, coming up against competition from a strong Ethiopian team that includes world record holder Gudaf Tsegay and Bosena Mulatie. World 5,000m silver medalist Lilian Kasait and World half marathon silver and bronze medalists Magret Chelimo and Catherine Reline are named in the Kenyan team.
World silver medalist Samuel Waithaka, 2023 world cross-country gold medalist Nicholas Kimeli, Samuel Chebolei and former world half marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie will form part of the men’s lineup.
These are the men’s and women’s lineups for the 10,000m Prefontaine Classic (subject to change);
10,000 men
Peter Mwaniki Aila (KEN) Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (KEN) Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN)
Benson Kiplangat (KEN) Benard Koech (KEN) Francis Koumwa (KEN) Edwin Kurgat (KEN)
Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) Weldon Langat (KEN) Samuel Chebolei Masai (KEN) Daniel Mateiko (KEN)
Stanley Waithaka Mburu (KEN) Gideon Kipkertich Rono (KEN)
10, 000m women
Emmaculate Anyango Achol (KEN) Mekedes Alemeshete (ETH) Catherine Reline Amanang’Ole (KEN)
Saron Berhe (ETH) Selah Busienei (KEN) Beatrice Chebet (KEN) Miriam Chebet (KEN)
Sarah Chelangat (UGA) Jesca Chelangat (KEN) Loice Chemnung (KEN) Faith Chepkoech (KEN)
Diana Chepkorir (KEN) Cintia Chepngeno (KEN) Janeth Chepngetich (KEN) Daisy Jepkemei (KAZ)
Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (KEN) Ednah Kurgat (USA) Bosena Mulatie (ETH)
Grace Loibach Nawowuna (KEN) Yenawa Nbret (ETH) Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN)
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (KEN) Rachel Smith (USA) Gudaf Tsegay (ETH)
Mary Moraa will be the only Kenyan name running the 800m in a field that features Authing Mu of USA and Ethiopian African Games 800m Gold medalist Tsige Duguma.
Only Teresia Muthoni Gateri is drafted in the women’s 5000m race with more changes expected to the lineup as Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech and Faith Cherotich line up in the 3000m steeplechase.
Daniel Ebenyo Simiyu Profile
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (born 18 September 1995) is a Kenyan middle-distance and long-distance runner
He finished in second place at the 2019 Kenya national World championships trials.
However, he was unable to compete as he failed to meet some of the Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) doping requirements. Simiyu did the in-competition test several times, but did not meet the required three out-of- competition tests that are mandatory for all athletes and include both urine and blood must include at least one Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) test and one Erythropoietin (Epo) test.[Simiyu blamed Athletics Kenya for the debacle, claiming the federation did not inform him of the regulations before he signed up for the trials
He was so disappointed he contemplated quitting the track and venturing into road racing full time and he won the Safaricom Kisii 10 km road race in a time of 29:16.71 as well as winning the 10 km race at the Nairobi Marathon in an event record time of 28:23.
He started the 2021 season with a victory after winning the elite-only San Silvestre Vallecana 10 km in Spain on 3 January.
He earned a spot on the Kenyan team for the 2020 Summer Games in the 5000m after finishing in the top 2 at the Kenyan Olympic trials after running a personal best 13:05.05. behind Nicholas Kimeli, and was confirmed on the Kenyan team.
In March 2022, he finished fourth over 3000m at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
He then won the Kenyan 5000m title as well as winning silver at the 2022 African Athletics Championships. He qualified for the 5000m final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He won the silver medal over 10,000m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.
In the 10,000m race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, he placed second to win the silver medal.
He was a silver medalist in the half marathon at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia in October 2023.
On 7 April 2024, he won the Berlin half marathon in a time of 59:30.
Personal bests
Outdoor
- 3000 metres – 7:40.39 (Zagreb 2022)
- Two miles – 8:19.67 (Eugene 2021)
- 5000 metres – 12:54.90 (Brussels 2022)
- 10,000 metres – 27:11.26 (Birmingham 2022)
Indoor
- 3000 metres – 7:37.86 (Metz 2022)
Road
- 10K – 26:58 (Valencia 2022)
- Half marathon – 59:04 (Manama 2022)
