Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the 2023 Okpekpe International 10km Road Race winner and record holder, has been listed to make his marathon debut at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, set to take place this weekend in Chicago, United States.
The Kenyan, who ran 28:28 to set a new Okpekpe 10km Road Race course record in 2023, is among the elite field confirmed by the organisers of the marathon.
Ebenyo will be keen to emulate his compatriot, Evans Rutto, who ran the fastest-ever marathon debut by winning the 2003 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:50.
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The 28-year-old’s bid to replicate Rutto’s feat 21 years later will be challenged by a few of his compatriots and Ethiopians.
Among the Kenyans looking to deny Ebenyo another historic race are Amos Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich, both boasting personal bests of 2:03:13.
While Kipruto will be making his 2024 marathon debut, Ngetich competed in the Tokyo Marathon in March, where he ran 2:04:18 to finish third.
Ethiopian Birhanu Legese is another athlete who could prevent a repeat of Rutto’s feat. Legese holds a lifetime best performance of 2:02:48, achieved when he finished second at the Berlin Marathon in 2019. He also ran 2:05:16 to place second at the NN Marathon Rotterdam in April this year.
Ebenyo, one of only 18 people to have broken 27 minutes in the 10km on the road, has also achieved sub-27 minutes in the 10,000m on the track and holds an impressive personal best of 59:04 in the half marathon.
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