Kenyan World Half Marathon silver medalist, Daniel Simiu, on Sunday morning, posted an impressive 59:30 to lead the country to a top-five sweep at the Berlin Half Marathon tournament.
Though he fell short of breaking the course record, impressive performances from Amos Kurgat and Isaiah Kipkoech saw the Kenyans securing the second and third spots with times of 59:42 and 59:47, respectively, further showcasing its depth in long-distance running in the heart of the German capital.
Other Kenyan runners,Benard Biwott and Bravin Kiprop rounded out the top five, finishing in 60:21 and 60:29, leaving the sixth position to the United States’ Diego Estrada.
The Kenyan dominance was further underscored by Robert Kiprop and Vincent Kiptoo, who completed the race in seventh and eighth places with times of 61:27 and 61:29, respectively.
Athletics World reports that race was tightly contested up to its midway point, with Simiu part of a leading pack that included Kiptoo, Kipkoech, Biwott, Kurgat, and Kiprop.
“However, the dynamics shifted with 8km left when Simiu and Kurgat pulled ahead, turning the competition into a thrilling duel between the two athletes.
“As the finish line approached, Kurgat appeared to lose momentum, allowing Simiu to surge ahead with a powerful finish.
“Despite his victory, Simiu was aiming to break the course record of 58:42 set by Eric Kiptanui in 2018 but fell short.”
Speaking after the race, Simiu expressed his determination to continue improving.
“Every race is a learning experience, and today was no different. I’m proud of what we achieved as a team and what I achieved personally.
“The record was on my mind, but it’s all about the win today. We’ll look forward to breaking more barriers in the future,” Simiu, 28, said.