Daniel Simiu pleads with Athletics Kenya to include him in the men's 10,000m team to Paris

Daniel Simiu pleads with Athletics Kenya to include him in the men's 10,000m team to Paris

Abigael Wafula 11:00 - 28.05.2024

Daniel Simiu pleads with Athletics Kenya to consider him the third athlete for the men's 10,000m team to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Simiu is pleading with Athletics Kenya to select him as the third athlete to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Simiu, the world half marathon silver medallist, was in contention during the Athletics Kenya trials for the 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic but encountered challenges that led to his dismal performance at the event where he finished eighth.

The Berlin Half Marathon champion is now hoping that he will join Daniel Mateiko and Nicholas Kimeli as the third athlete since he is hungry for a medal and he is also the world number one in the 10,000m so far.

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“I just felt like I was tired but my manager told me to just go and run because I arrived late but I’m happy I competed and those took the first three slots, I’m happy for them and I wish them all the best in Paris. I wish I could have come earlier.

“I think it’s good and I think that’s my prayer that despite me arriving late, I’m praying to God that they consider me in Paris because I’m hungry for that medal,” Simiu said in a post-race interview.

The 28-year-old explained that the visa hitch cost him a lot and was draining and by the time he was arriving in the US for the event, he was tired.

During the race, Simiu also stumbled and fell but got up and continued to finish the race, insisting that he had to work hard and finish the race since no one was going to help him.

“It was stressful but I thank God that I made it because it wasn’t my fault…I arrived late and I had to race like 18 hours to the game. It’s like the body was still tired but I’m happy I finished.

“I was just in the middle and when I tried to change the lane but I tripped. However, now I feel okay, I wanted to drop out but I remembered that I need to work hard because no one will do that for me,” Simiu said.

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