2023 Okpekpe 10km road race winner, Ebenyo set to emulate Rutto by winning on Marathon debut in Chicago

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 hold this weekend in Chicago, United States of America.

The Kenyan who ran 28:28 to set a new Okpekpe 10km road racecourse record in 2023 is among the elite field confirmed by the organizers of the marathon.

Ebenyo will be keen to emulate his country man, Evans Rutto who ran the fastest-ever marathon debut by winning the 2003 Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:05:50.

The 29-year old’s bid to repeat Rutto’s feat 21 years after will be challenged by a few of his countrymen and Ethiopians.

Among Kenyans who look good to deny another historic race will be the Kenyan duo of Amos Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich who both boast personal bests of 2:03:13.

While Kipruto will be making his 2024 Marathon debut, Ngetich was at the Tokyo Marathon in March where he ran 2:04:18 to place third.

Ethiopian, Birhanu Legese is another athlete that could prevent a repeat of the Rutto feat.

Legese holds a lifetime best performance of 2:02:48 which he ran to place second at the Berlin marathon in 2019 and ran 2:05:16 to place second at the NN Marathon Rotterdam in April this year.

Ebenyo who is one of only 18 people to have broken 27 minutes in the 10km on the road has also broken 27 minutes in the 10,000m on the track and holds an impressive 59:04 personal best in the half marathon.