Simiu hopes 2024 will bring him more glory

Daniel Simiu Ebenyo celebrates after winning a past championship.[FILE]

World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo Simiu says he is looking forward to a better 2024 after missing the 25km record by just five seconds on Sunday.

The Iten-based Simiu won the Kolkata 25km race in a course record and world best time this year, making 2023 one of his glorious years.

A prayerful Simiu who dedicated the remaining 11 days of 2023 to recovery after numerous successes, said he will work harder to represent Kenya again.

He attributed his achievements this year to “God’s grace” and hard work, and thanked athletics fans for supporting him and the country’s athletes in 2023.

“I am thankful this year. Winning the Kolkata race in a course record was another achievement and I thank God for it,” Simiu said yesterday, barely three days after Sunday's triumph in India.

Simiu’s head-to-head with compatriot Victor Kipruto Togom was the race highlight.

The 28-year-old won the Kolkata 25km contest in 1:11:13 while Togom came in second in 1:12:26, finishing inside the previous 1:12:49 course record.

He wrote the second fastest time in 25km of all time behind two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, who timed 1:11:08 en route to then world marathon record of 2:01:09 in Berlin last year.

“With God’s grace I was able to achieve something special here (in Kolkata) to set the course record,” Simiu told International media after his win on Sunday.

When asked about his plans for 2024, Simiu told Standard Sports: “I have no specific plans for next year. It is my hope that I perform much better in 2023.”

He said he was aiming to make Kenya's team on merit.

“I do not want to be given a slot (to represent the country) on a silver platter."