2023 Okpekpe Race Champion Ebenyo Aims to Follow in Rutto's Footsteps by Winning the Chicago Marathon.

 

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the 2023 Okpekpe International 10km road race winner and record holder, is set to make his marathon debut at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend in Chicago, USA. The Kenyan athlete, who recorded a time of 28:28 to establish a new Okpekpe course record, is part of the elite field confirmed by the marathon organizers.

Ebenyo aims to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Evans Rutto, who achieved the fastest marathon debut by winning the 2003 Chicago Marathon in 2:05:50. 

At 28 years old, Ebenyo faces competition from several fellow Kenyans and Ethiopian runners. Notable challengers include Kenyans Amos Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich, both of whom have personal bests of 2:03:13. While Kipruto will be making his marathon debut in 2024, Ngetich recently ran the Tokyo Marathon in March, finishing third with a time of 2:04:18.

Ethiopian athlete Birhanu Legese also poses a significant challenge, with a personal best of 2:02:48 achieved at the 2019 Berlin Marathon, and a recent time of 2:05:16 at the NN Marathon Rotterdam in April.

Ebenyo is among only 18 athletes to have broken the 27-minute barrier in the 10km on the road, and he has also achieved a sub-27-minute time in the 10,000m on the track, alongside an impressive personal best of 59:04 in the half marathon.