Mwangi, Ebenyo lead Kenya’s charge at BOLDERBoulder 10K showdown

Rebecca Mwangi/ FILE

Reigning national 5,000m champion Rebecca Mwangi and 2023 World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo will spearhead Kenya’s assault at Saturday’s BOLDERBoulder 10km road race in Colorado, USA.

Mwangi had earlier confirmed her plans to feature in the American road outing. “I have a road race on May 25, the BOLDERBoulder 10K,” she revealed.

The 24-year-old will be making only her fifth career appearance over the 10km road distance. She made her debut in Langueux, France, in 2023, where she narrowly missed out on the podium after clocking 31:31 for fourth place.

However, it was in 2025 that she truly tested herself over the distance. Her first assignment came in June in Durban, South Africa, where she again narrowly missed the podium, timing 31:13 for fourth place.

Mwangi finally broke into the top three in August at the Tshwane 10K in South Africa, clocking 32:41 to finish behind home favourite Glenrose Xaba, who stormed to victory in 31:50.

She followed that up with another podium finish in September in Moscow, where she clocked 31:46 for second place behind Russia’s Svetlana Aplachkina, who won in 31:22.

The distance-running sensation has been in impressive form since launching her 2026 campaign. On January 10, she lined up for the women’s 10km race at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, finishing 16th in 33:55.

On April 26, she reached another career milestone when she made her marathon pacing debut at the 2026 London Marathon.

Mwangi then returned to the track during the Kenya Prisons Track and Field Championships held on May 8-9 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, where she doubled up in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

In the 5,000m, she clocked 16:13.09 to finish second behind Brillian Chepkorir, who won in 16:11.5. She also settled for second place in the 10,000m after timing 33:43.2 behind Lilian Kasait, who crossed the line first in 33:28.5.

In Colorado, Mwangi will team up with Jesca Chelangat and Evaline Chirchir in the Kenyan women’s contingent. Ebenyo, meanwhile, boasts an impressive pedigree over the 10km road distance.

His decorated résumé includes victories in Valencia (26:58) and Cape Town (27:34) in 2022, Houilles (27:12) and the Nairobi Standard Chartered race (28:23) in 2019, Berlin (27:18) and Madrid (27:41) in 2020, another Berlin victory in 2021 (27:50), and Okpekpe, Nigeria, in 2023 (28:28).

The Kenyan ace opened his season strongly by claiming bronze at the World Cross Country Championships in 28:45. He finished behind Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (28:18) and Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi (28:36).

However, his subsequent outings have proved more challenging. At the Sirikwa Classic on February 14, Ebenyo narrowly missed the podium after finishing fifth in 29:57.

On March 15, he stepped up to the New York Half Marathon but struggled to make an impact, eventually placing 13th in 1:00:50. At the BOLDERBoulder, Ebenyo will strengthen Kenya’s men’s challenge alongside Athanas Kioko and Patrick Kiprop.