Kenya’s top road runners are set to showcase the country’s distance-running dominance this Sunday as they compete across Europe, Asia and South America.
In Argentina, Simon Maywa leads the Kenyan contingent at the Buenos Aires Half Marathon.
The 21-year-old distance runner enters the race in strong form, having opened his 2026 season with a second-place finish at the Santa Pola Half Marathon (1:02:59) in January behind teammate Brian Akotir (1:00:49), before storming to victory at the Mexico City Half Marathon (1:04:36) in July.
Maywa boasts an impressive resume over the 21km distance, headlined by a personal best of 59:44 set during his 2025 victory at the Rome Half Marathon. His 2025 campaign also included podium finishes in Napoli, Porto, and Shenzhen.
Joining Maywa in the Argentine capital are Jonathan Kipkoech, Robert Koech, and Rodgers Plimo, giving Kenya a deep lineup.
However, the squad faces a formidable challenge in Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha.
The second-fastest marathoner in history set a world record over the half-marathon distance in 2024 with a time of 57:30 in Valencia, a mark eclipsed only by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (57:20) in Lisbon earlier this year.
In the women’s race in Buenos Aires, Irine Jepchumba, Sheila Chepkirui, and Margaret Akidor will represent Kenya as they aim to hold off Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay, the current world leader in the women’s marathon.
Meanwhile, at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in Northern Ireland, Boston Half Marathon champion Isaia Lasoi leads another strong Kenyan charge alongside Daniel Mateiko, Samwel Chebolei, and Edward Cheserek.
Lasoi enters the contest fresh from a runner-up performance at the Guadalajara Half Marathon in Mexico this past February, where he stopped the clock at 1:03:38.
Finally, in Asia, Albert Kangogo and Veronicah Maina will head Kenya’s effort at the Maybank Marathon in Gianyar, Bali, completing a packed weekend of global racing for the nation’s elite athletes
