The Istanbul Half Marathon champion Daniel Simiu Ebenyo finished second to win Kenya’s first at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday, August 20th, 2023.
Kenya’s drought for a gold medal in the event now stretches to over two decades with Charles Kamathi the last Kenyan to claim gold during the 2001 championship.
Simiu produced a huge burst in acceleration to reel in on Olympic champion Selemon Barega to beat him on the line as he struck Kenya’s first medal by securing a silver medal.
That final effort was only enough to lift him to silver with Joshua Cheptegei taking his third successive world 10,000m title after a masterful run.
Simiu’s acceleration in the final meters saw him dethrone Ethiopian Barega as he finished second in 27:52.60.
Cheptegei retained his title in 27:51.42 with Barega taking bronze in 27:52.72.
Other Kenyans Bernard Kibet (27:56.27) and Nicholas Kimeli (28:03.38) finished fifth and eighth respectively.
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