NAIROBI, Kenya, August 21, 2026 – World record holder Agnes Ngetich and defending champion Daniel Ebenyo Simiu are among 16 athletes selected for next month’s World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ngetich will fly the country’s flag in the women’s half marathon where she will be joined by Lilian Kasait — who won silver in the women’s 5km at the last edition of the competition in Riga in 2023 — as well as Daisilah Jerono and Veronica Loleo.
The world record holder for the women’s 10km, Ng’etich heads to Denmark in a rich vein of form after winning five of the six races she has run in this year.
The 25-year-old began with victory in the senior women’s 10km at the World Cross Country Championships in Florida in January, clocking 31:28.
She then won the same event at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour in Eldoret, a month later, stopping the clock at 32:28.
A 13th place finish at the New York Half Marathon proved only a minor blip as Ngetich bounced back to winning ways, triumphing at the Lille 10km road race in France, timing 28:58.
She was back to New York in June where she clocked 30:07 to take top honour in the women’s 10km road race.
Ng’etich’s last race was at the Monaco Diamond League in July where she ran 8:08.95 to win the women’s 3000m.
‘No compromises’
For Simiu, a repeat of Riga is unlikely on the cards; the World Cross Country bronze medalist will be undoubtedly going for gold.
In the last edition of the championships, Ebenyo stepped his foot off the pedal in the latter stages of the men’s half marathon, allowing Sabastian Sawe to grab gold — a decision he later attributed to his ‘Kenyanness’ and team spirit.
Interestingly, Sawe’s career took off like a rocket flying into outer space, the 31-year-old becoming the first man to run 42km under two hours when he clocked 1:59:30 at this year’s London Marathon.
Back to Simiu, the 30-year-old will be eager to pick up from where he left off in his last race, at the Chicago Half Marathon in June, during which he timed 1:00:39 to win.
It was his first victory in 2026, having failed to do so in his previous four races.
In Copenhagen, he will be chasing glory in the half marathon alongside fellow Kenyans, Gideon Rono, Nicholas Kipkorir and Michael Kiplangat.
At the last edition in Riga, Kenya harvested 12 medals including five gold, three silver and four bronze.
Kenyan Team to World Road Running Championships:
Men: Daniel Ebenyo Simiu, Gideon Rono, Nicholas Kipkorir and Michael Kiplangat (Half Marathon); Charles Kiboino and Mathew Kipsang (5km), Brian Komen and Daniel Munguti (road mile)
Women: Agnes Ngetich, Lilian Kasait, Daisilah Jerono and Veronica Loleo (half marathon); Caroline Gitonga and Caroline Nyaga (5km); Naomi Korir and Mirriam Cherop (road mile).
