Caroline Gitonga (L) after winning silver over 5km at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark/ HANDOUT After storming to her maiden global podium finish over the weekend at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, Caroline Gitonga has set her sights on lowering her half marathon personal best when she heads to Valencia on October 25.
Gitonga announced herself on the global stage emphatically during her maiden Team Kenya appearance over the weekend, producing a superb run in the women's 5km road race to clinch silver.
The 30-year-old stopped the clock in 14:48, finishing behind Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw, who struck gold in 14:41, while Australia's Rose Davies completed the podium in 14:50. Former African 10,000m champion Caroline Nyaga failed to produce a late surge, fading to 13th in 15:17.
The Kenyan duo also fell short of defending the women's 5km crown that Team Kenya won at the 2023 championships in Riga, Latvia, where Beatrice Chebet stormed to gold in a course record 14:35 ahead of compatriot Lilian Kasait (14:39), with Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye taking bronze in 14:40.
Although she narrowly missed the top step of the podium, Gitonga's silver medal delivered the first global medal of her career in Kenyan colours. The distance ace could not hide her delight after making a memorable debut in the national singlet.
"I am very happy. But to be honest, it was a tough race. I am so happy to represent my country. It comes with joy to do that," she said.
With the celebrations behind her, Gitonga says her attention is firmly fixed on Valencia, where she hopes to slice a full minute off her half marathon best. "I will be going back and preparing for the half marathon in Valencia next month."
"My next goal is to get a new PB. My PB now for a half marathon is 1 hour and 6 minutes, and I hope to improve it by one minute," she added. Gitonga's lifetime best stands at 1:06:16, a mark she produced in March while storming to victory at the Prague Half Marathon.
Beyond Valencia, the road specialist says she will carefully map out her ambitions for the 2027 season. "After Valencia I will think about what my next goal should be."
"Right now there is no pressure, other than I will go back and prepare for the half marathon in Valencia. And then I can think about next season," she noted.
Her silver in Copenhagen crowned what has already been a scintillating road-running campaign. Gitonga opened the season with victory at the Castellon 10km on February 22, clocking 29:34 to finish ahead of compatriot Nelvin Kemboi (29:45) and Ethiopia's Chaltu Dida (29:50).
She carried that momentum into the Prague Half Marathon on March 28, where she set her personal best time of 1:06:16 while leading a clean Kenyan podium sweep. Jesca Chelangat (1:06:45) and Cynthia Chepkwony (1:06:49) finished second and third.
The victories kept coming as she blazed to another commanding win at the Utrecht 5km on June 13, clocking a brilliant 14:26. A week later, Gitonga briefly swapped the roads for the track and impressed once again, finishing second in the 5,000m at Track Night Vienna in 14:53.92 behind her sister, Purity Gitonga, who claimed victory in 14:48.18.
