Kenyan athletes will take on the rest of the world in the next two days when the Danish capital city of Copenhagen hosts the second edition of the World Athletics Road Running Championships.
Reigning world cross country champion, Agnes Ng’etich, leads Kenya assault in women’s half marathon. The world 10km record holder will partner Lilian Kasait, who hopes to upgrade the silver medal she won at the 2023 championship in Riga, Latvia to gold, Daisilah Jerono and Veronica Loleo.
Meanwhile, Daniel Simiu will be going for nothing short of victory as he seeks to upgrade his silver medal from 2023 competition to gold. Simiu’s team has Nicholas Kimeli who claimed bronze in 5km in 2023, Alex Matata and Gedion Rono.
The women’s half marathon will be held from 10:10am on Sunday, followed by the men’s half marathon at 10:45am.
Gitonga, who was handed her first call-up to the senior team last month, will make her debut on the global stage after spending a month training in Iten in the company of her twin sister and training partner Purity Kajuju.
Although Kajuju is not in the team, she has been helping her sibling with pace work during training.
Caroline Gitonga and Nyaga are out to defend Kenya’s perfect record from the inaugural 2023 edition in Riga, where Beatrice Chebet led a Kenyan 1-2 in the women’s 5km, clocking 14 minutes and 35 seconds to win gold ahead of Lilian Kasait Rengeruk.
With a flat and fast course around Copenhagen’s city centre and a deep field featuring Ethiopian record-holders, Gitonga says she is ready to convert her maiden national vest into a podium finish.
Prague Half Marathon Champion Caroline Gitonga, during an interview at their home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on September 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“I’m excited to represent my country in the upcoming race. It has been one month of vigorous training. I know it’s going to be competitive but I will do my best,” Gitonga told Nation Sport on phone from Copenhagen.
For Gitonga and her identical twin Purity Kajuju, celebration is a joint venture. When Gitonga was named in Team Kenya last month for this weekend’s championship, the two celebrated together.
The inaugural edition of the event took place in Latvia in 2023 after it re-branded from World Half Marathon Championships. The same year, World Athletics introduced the One Mile race, and the 5km race.
Gitonga, a rising road talent from Elgeyo Marakwet County, will line up in the women’s 5km race along with Caroline Nyaga from 3:10pm.
And no one has been more invested in the build-up than her twin sister and training partner, Kajuju who is also a road race athlete.
“After being selected to represent Kenya, we celebrated together. My sister has been giving me pieces of advice on how I should compete, when to attack and when to go flat-out,” Gitonga told Nation Sport on Tuesday before travelling to Denmark.
The story of the twin athletes pushing each other to do better in early morning runs around Iten has already inspired their training group.
Kajuju narrowly missed selection and has taken up the role of strategist, studying splits and urging her sister to stay patient until the 3km mark before kicking.
The two have competed together in races abroad. This year alone, the two competed in Facsa Castellón 10km road race on February 22 in Spain, where Gitonga won, while Kajuju came fourth.
They also competed in women’s 5,000m race in 2026 Track Night Vienna Run. Kajuju won in 14:48.18, with Gitonga second in 14:53.92.
Prague Half Marathon Champion Caroline Gitonga, during training session on Sergoit-Moiben road in Uasin Gishu County on September 15, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“It’s unfortunate my twin sister did not make the national team to Denmark, but I will be there to work hard and win because of her. She has been my supporter and training together gives me the energy to keep going,” Kajuju said.
“We have been encouraging one another to the last kilometer while competing in races,” she added.
Gitonga and her fellow Team Kenya athletes will face stiff competition from Ethiopians, led by Likina Amebaw and Aleshign Baweke, Ugandan runners Charity Cherop, Martha Chemutai and Rispa Cherop, among other top athletes in the distance.
Kenya will also be represented in men’s 5km race where the Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mathew Kipsang will battle it out with his compatriot Charles Kiboino.
In the men’s Road Mile, Brian Komen and Daniel Munguti will fly Kenya’s flag, while Naomi Korir and Miriam Cherop will compete in the women’s Road Mile.
