Veronica Loleo/ HANDOUTFresh from securing a maiden global podium finish at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, Veronica Loleo hopes her breakthrough performance will propel her to glory during next month's Valencia Half Marathon.
The 28-year-old distance star delivered the finest championship performance of her career last weekend, winning silver in the women's half marathon in her first-ever global event in Team Kenya colours.
Loleo clocked 1:06:05, finishing behind Agnes Ng'etich, who stormed to gold in a women-only world record of 1:05:15. Rwanda's Florence Niyonkuru completed the podium with bronze in 1:06:08. Despite the historic achievement, Loleo admitted a podium finish was the last thing she expected. “I didn't expect to be on the podium, so for me I'm very happy. It is my first championship,” she said. She described the silver medal as a priceless milestone and dedicated it to the people who have stood behind her journey. “This first championship medal I will award to my family and coach,” she added.
Loleo also reflected on the demanding nature of the race, saying patience and discipline were key to her medal-winning run. “The race was very hard for me as there was some wind and the pace was up from the very start.”
“I noticed Agnes taking off, but I knew I had to stick to my own pace. She was going too fast from the very beginning, so I decided to go with the pack.”
With Copenhagen now behind her, the Kenyan is eager to carry that momentum into one of the world's fastest road races, the Valencia Half Marathon.
“I will go to Valencia next, to run the half marathon,” she said.
Loleo returns to Valencia seeking an upgraded performance after finishing third at last year's edition. In 2025, she clocked 1:05:46 behind Ng'etich, who won in 1:03:08, and Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay, who finished second in 1:05:10.
The Spanish showdown also presents Loleo with an opportunity to secure her first road victory of the season. Her campaign began brightly on March 29 with a third-place finish at the Berlin Half Marathon, where she ran 1:05:35. Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw won in 1:05:07 ahead of Kenya's Daisilah Jerono, who finished second in 1:05:21.
Her second outing proved more challenging as she settled for ninth at the Bengaluru 10km Road Race on April 26 in 32:04. Niyonkuru won that race in 30:45, ahead of Brenda Jepchirchir (30:59) and Ethiopia's Chaltu Dida (31:03).
Loleo, however, rediscovered her rhythm on June 21 with another podium finish, taking third at the Boston 10km in 31:33. Sharon Lokedi won in 31:28, while American Rachael Rudel was second in 31:31.
