Distance sensation Caroline Gitonga delivered Kenya’s second medal at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Saturday afternoon, producing a strong run to claim silver in the women’s 5km race.
Gitonga crossed the line in 14:48, finishing behind Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, who struck gold in 14:41.
Australia’s Rose Davies completed the podium after clocking 14:50 for bronze.
The 2022 African 10,000m champion Caroline Nyaga was unable to mount a late charge, fading to 13th place in 15:17.
The Kenyan pair also fell short of defending the women’s 5km title that Team Kenya captured at the 2023 championships in Riga, Latvia.
That year, world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet stormed to gold in a course record 14:35, while compatriot Lilian Kasait completed a Kenyan one-two in 14:39.
Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye settled for bronze in 14:40.
Although Gitonga narrowly missed out on gold, the silver medal marked the first global podium finish of her career in Kenyan colours.
The performance also crowned a sparkling 2026 campaign for the road-running specialist.
She launched her season with victory at the Castellon 10km on February 22, clocking 29:34 ahead of compatriot Nelvin Kemboi (29:45) and Ethiopia’s Chaltu Dida (29:50).
On March 28, Gitonga maintained her winning rhythm by conquering the Prague Half Marathon in 1:06:16, spearheading a clean Kenyan podium sweep as Jesca Chelangat (1:06:45) and Cynthia Chepkwony (1:06:49) finished second and third.
She extended her unbeaten streak with a third consecutive triumph at the Utrecht 5km on June 13, blazing to 14:26.
A week later, Gitonga briefly traded the roads for the track and impressed once again, clocking 14:53.92 for second place in the 5,000m at Track Night Vienna, behind her sister Purity Gitonga, who won in 14:48.18.
Elswhere, their male counterparts missed out on the podium places with Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mathew Kipsang placing eighth in 13:11 as Cornelius Kiboino finished further back in 13th place clocking 13:15.
