Simiu hopeful of first global gold medal at Saturday's World X-Country in Florida

The 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu is bullish about his chances of finally striking global gold when he lines up at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday.

Simiu’s global exploits include silver at the 2023 World Championships in Eugene and another silver at the 2023 World Half Marathon Championships in Riga.

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He is part of a formidable eight-man contingent selected for Kenya’s senior men’s 10km race.

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The 30-year-old will lead a cast that includes rising star Ishmael Rokitto, alongside Edwin Bett, Robert Koech, Weldon Langat, Shadrack Koech, Denis Kemboi and Kevin Chesang.

‎With his focus laser-sharp, Simiu is adamant this could be the moment he restores Kenya’s grip on the senior men’s crown, which has eluded the country since 2017.

‎“I am praying to get a medal in Florida,” Simiu told the Star.

‎Kenya last tasted gold in the senior men’s race through Geoffrey Kamworor at the 2017 championships in Kampala, Uganda.

Since then, the title has slipped away as Uganda ran riot, winning the last three editions through Joshua Cheptegei in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2019 and Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, before

Jacob Kiplimo extended the dominance in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2024.

‎Simiu revealed that head coach Julius Kirwa has played a key role in sharpening his mindset, urging him to seize the opportunity that now lies before him.

‎“I am very excited to go to Florida. The chief coach, Julius Kirwa, has been encouraging me. He told me this is the chance to go for glory,” said Simiu.

‎“I am praying that everything aligns and goes as planned,” he added.

‎Interestingly, Simiu admitted his inclusion in the World Cross Country team came as a surprise.

“I was not expecting to make the team for the World Cross because I won the nationals by a whisker. I was still recovering from my appearance at the Chicago Marathon just a week before the nationals,” he explained.

‎The 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medallist will also shoulder leadership duties in Florida, having been named Team Kenya’s captain.

‎“In this team, I think I am the senior-most, so I have been talking to the others and encouraging them so that we can go and do our best,” he said.

‎“Our training has been going on well through our able coaches, team doctors and physios. They have all been helping us.”

‎Kenya arrive in Florida as the overall defending champions after a dominant showing in Belgrade 2024, where they topped the medal table with 11 medals (six gold, two silver and three bronze).

Ethiopia followed with 10 medals, while Uganda finished third with five.

‎Further underlining their supremacy, Kenya swept the team titles in the senior men’s, senior women’s, mixed relay and U-20 men’s races.

‎Simiu is confident Team Kenya can not only defend the overall crown but also retain all the team titles in Tallahassee.

‎“I am 99 per cent sure we are going to defend the overall title. We have prepared mentally and we are ready for the challenge that awaits us,” he said.

‎“I think we shall achieve what we have set out to do.”

‎Despite the confidence, Simiu remains wary of the threats lurking in the field, particularly from Ethiopia, Uganda and the increasingly dangerous European nations.

‎“The European nations are a big threat because now they are running very fast. We also have other tough African opposition like Uganda and Ethiopia,” he noted.

‎“The good thing is that they will be familiar faces we have come up against before. So we will work as a team to ensure we win.”

Meanwhile, Kiplimo will go for a senior hat-trick of world cross titles when he leads Team Uganda stateside.

He will be joined on the men’s team by Dolphine Chelimo, Dan Kibet, Emmanuel Kibet, Keneth Kiprop and Deogracius Musobo.

The women’s team includes Sarah Chelangat, who finished fifth in Belgrade two years ago, and Joy Cheptoyek, who finished seventh in the world 10,000m final in Tokyo.

The U20 women’s squad features world U20 5000m bronze medallist Charity Cherop.