Former national 1,500m champion Daniel Munguti believes experience could make the difference as he returns to the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, this weekend, determined to turn the lessons of Riga into a podium challenge.
At the 2023 World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, Munguti made his global debut in the men’s One-Mile road race but endured a frustrating outing, finishing 13th in 4:00.67.
Compatriot Reynold Cheruiyot was 22nd in 4:05.91, while American Hobbs Kessler won gold in 3:56.13, ahead of Britain’s Callum Elson (3:56.41) and fellow American Samuel Prakel (3:56.43).
Three years on, Munguti returns to the Danish capital as a more experienced athlete and believes he has learnt enough from his debut to mount a serious challenge. “In 2023 it was my first time. I was still learning. I went out too hard in the first phase, which slowed me in the last part,” he said.
The 31-year-old has already set his sights on a much-improved performance, insisting he will adopt a more patient approach this time.
“This time I am more experienced. I will be more patient, stay in the pack and save energy for the last phase. I also understand the road mile better now. It’s not like the track; positioning is very important,” he said.
Munguti’s immediate target is a personal best, but he is also harbouring ambitions of fighting for a medal. “My first target is to run a personal best and make the team proud,” he said.
“The field is very strong, so I want to be competitive too and fight for a podium position. If I execute my race plan well, the time and position will come.” His confidence is backed by a solid 2026 campaign and meticulous preparations under coach Peter Bii in Iten.
“Preparations have been very good. I have been training in Iten under coach Peter Bii, and we have been focusing a lot on speed endurance and finishing speed. “For the one mile you need both endurance and a very fast last 400 metres, so we have done a lot of track work on this, plus gym strength. I feel healthy and ready for the task,” he said.
Munguti began his season at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, where he teamed up with Reynold Cheruiyot, Winfred Mbithe and Purity Chepkirui to finish fourth in the mixed relay in 22:42.
He followed that with second place at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour before switching to the track, where he finished third in the 1,500m at the Kip Keino Classic in 3:36.21. He then dominated the Kenya Defence Forces Track and Field Championships, winning the 1,500m in 3:41.47, before carrying his form to Finland, where he won the 3,000m at the Joensuu Motonet GP in 7:49.04 and the 1,500m at the Tampere Meeting in 3:40.65.
