Summary
– AK clarifies Simiu’s exclusion.
– Kibet chosen for Prefontaine performance.
– Fair selection process emphasized.
– Kibet’s effort and influence highlighted.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has provided clarification regarding the non-selection of Daniel Simiu for the men’s 10,000m event at the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Official Clarifies
According to Milcah Chemos, an athletes’ representative, Bernard Kibet was chosen to replace Simiu based on his impressive performance at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Oregon last May, where he secured third place.
Chemos, who personally witnessed the competition in Oregon, emphasized the selection process’s fairness, stating that all athletes were evaluated equally. She highlighted Kibet’s commendable effort, particularly in challenging conditions, as he attempted to close the gap on the leading runners.
Kibet Has Positive Influence
Additionally, Chemos highlighted Kibet’s positive influence on fellow Kenyan athletes, citing his selfless contributions during the previous year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
“If we go back to Budapest (2023), he is also the one who played a big role for us to get the silver medal (in the men’s 10,000m). It was a hard decision to select the third athlete for the men’s 10,000m…we were 10 of us in the technical committee. I believe Bernard deserves it and let us give him chance. He will prove himself even as we go to Paris,” the 2013 World 3000m steeplechase champion said.
Kibet was part of Kenya’s podium sweep at the Diamond League circuit, clocking 26:51.09 behind fellow countrymen, Daniel Mateiko (26:50.81) and Nicholas Kimeli (26:50.94) in first and second respectively.
The trio have been selected for the men’s 10,000m at the Paris Olympics although some quarters have been calling for the inclusion of Simiu who finished eighth in 27:24.83.
Simiu arrived two days to the competition due to complications with his travel arrangements, including visa delays.
Nonetheless, AK executive committee member Barnaba Korir believes these bottlenecks did not affect the Commonwealth Games silver medalist, noting that he had enough time to rest and train ahead of the competition.
“Of course, the selection had a few challenges but as the president (Jack Tuwei) has said, every athlete that was supposed to be there made it. Ebenyo (Simiu) made it there two days prior to the competition so he had an opportunity for two days to rest, which normally is between 2-3 days for an athlete to rest before the day of the competition,” Korir explained.
Simiu is expected to compete in the men’s 5000m where he will battle for a ticket to Paris with other bigwigs including the 2023 World Cross Country junior champion Ishmael Kipkurui, world 5000m bronze medalist Jacob Krop, and the 2022 World 10,000m silver medalist Stanley Waithaka Mburu.
The trials for the quadrennial games are set for Friday and Saturday at the Nyayo Stadium where over 250 athletes will be competing across 22 disciplines.
The top two finishers in each category will book their place on the plane to Paris with the third representatives to be handpicked by a panel of selectors.
Meanwhile, world record holder for the women’s 10,000m Beatrice Chebet will be accompanied in the 25-lap race by World Road Running 5km silver medalist Lilian Kasait and the 2022 World 10,000m bronze medalist Margaret Chelimo.
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo Profile
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo (born 18 September 1995) is a Kenyan middle-distance and long-distance runner.
Career
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)
