Mathew Kipsang at the Commonwealth Games/ FILEReigning Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mathew Kipsang and 2022 African 10,000m champion Caroline Nyaga will carry Kenya's hopes of capturing the 5km road race titles when the World Road Running Championships get underway this weekend in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The 5km road races will ignite the championships on Saturday before attention shifts to the blue-riband half marathon on Sunday.
Saturday's programme begins with the Road Mile, with the women's race starting at 11:10 am before the men's contest at 11.30 am. The 5km races follow later in the day, with the women setting off at 3.10 pm and the men at 3.40 pm.
Kenya heads to Copenhagen as the defending champions in the women's 5km after a memorable 1-2 sweep at the 2023 edition in Riga, Latvia. World 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet stormed to gold in a course record of 14:35, while compatriot Lilian Kasait completed a Kenyan one-two in 14:39. Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye settled for bronze in 14:40.
The men's title, however, has remained elusive for Kenya. In Riga, Nicholas Kimeli clocked 13:16 to claim bronze behind Ethiopian duo Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:59) and Yomif Kejelcha (13:02).
In the women's field, few arrive with stronger road credentials than the seasoned Nyaga, who will partner with the in-form Caroline Gitonga in Kenya's charge for another podium finish. Nyaga boasts an impressive resumée over the 5km distance, highlighted by victories in Lille (2023) in 14:35, Paris (2024) in 14:40, and Tokyo (2025) in 14:19. She also finished runner-up in Leicester (2024) with 14:59.
The experienced distance runner now heads to Copenhagen chasing a maiden global podium after narrowly missing out at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she finished sixth in the women's 5,000m in 14:54.00. Gitonga, meanwhile, has been one of the hottest names on the roads in 2026.
She opened her campaign with three consecutive victories at the Castellon 10km on February 22 (29:34), the Prague Half Marathon on March 28 (1:06:16) and the Utrecht 5km on June 13, where she blazed to 14:26. A week later, she briefly swapped the roads for the track, clocking 14:53.92 in the 5,000m at Track Night Vienna.
Apart from the Utrecht triumph, Gitonga's other accolades over the 5km road race include Vienna in 2025 (14:56) and 2019 (15:48) and third position at Arezzo in 2024 (15:46).
The duo, however, face stern opposition from Ethiopian Likina Amebaw, fresh from capturing the women's 5,000m trophy at the Brussels Diamond League final.
In the men's race, Kipsang arrives brimming with confidence after capturing his maiden global title in Glasgow, where he produced a commanding run to win the Commonwealth Games 5,000m crown in 13:23.61.
The 30-year-old has enjoyed mixed fortunes over 5km. He celebrated victory at the Sevilla 5K in 2025 with 13:47, but later missed the podium after finishing fifth in Al Khobar in 13:08. Charles Kiboino will keep Kipsang company. The Kenyan's face opposition from a strong European contingent led by France's Jimmy Gressier, the reigning world champion over 10,000m.
