After missing out on a slot to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Daniel Ebenyo is set to make his debut in the Chicago Marathon on October 13, 2024.
The 28-year-old fell in the Kenyan 10,000m Olympic trials in October in Eugene and thus missed a chance to go to Paris; however, he will have a chance to try and shine in Chicago.
Ebenyo has run personal bests of 12:54 and 26:57 on the track and took silver in the 10,000 at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest last year. He enjoys a half marathon personal best of 59:04 and has proven very hard to beat at the 13.1-mile distance.
He has contested seven half marathons and has finished no lower than second: 1st Istanbul (59:52), 2nd World Half (59:14), 1st New Delhi (59:27), and 1st Berlin (59:30) are his stats since the beginning of last year.
In Chicago, Ebenyo will hope to make history because no one has won the marathon in his debut since Evans Rutto in 2003.
In the women’s race, Sutume Kebede will be the fastest marathoner in the world in 2024, following her 2:15:55 personal best in Tokyo. She was fifteenth in Chicago last year after timing 2:26.
Ruth Chepngetich, who has a strong history in Chicago after winning in 2021 and 2022 and finishing second last year in 2:15:37, and Joyyciline Jepkosgei, who was fourth last year in 2:17:23, are among the Kenyan contestants to challenge Kebede.
Kenya, Ethiopia men runners
Amos Kipruto, KEN, 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2022)
Vincent Ngetich, KEN, 2:03:13 (Berlin, 2023)
Dawit Wolde, ETH, 2:03:48 (Valencia, 2023)
Amdework Walelegn, ETH, 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2024)
John Korir, KEN, 2:05:01 (Chicago, 2022)
Huseydin Mohamed Esa, ETH, 2:05:05 (Amsterdam, 2022)
Jemal Yimer, ETH, 2:06:08 (Seoul, 2024)
Daniel Ebenyo – Debutant
Kenya, Ethiopia women athletes
Ruth Chepngetich, KEN, 2:14:18 (Chicago, 2022)
Sutume Kebede, ETH, 2:15:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN, 2:16:24 (London, 2024)
Degitu Azimeraw, ETH, 2:17:58 (London, 2021)
Ashete Bekere Dido, ETH, 2:17:58 (Tokyo, 2022)
Hiwot Gebrekidan, ETH, 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
Irine Cheptai, KEN, 2:18:22 (Hamburg, 2024)
Keira D’Amato, USA, 2:19:12 (Houston, 2022)
Betsy Saina, USA, 2:19:17 (Tokyo, 2024)
Dorcas Tuitoek, KEN, 2:20:02 (Amsterdam, 2023)
Mary Ngugi-Cooper, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
