Marathon gold for Uganda on final day of World Athletics Championships

Victor Kiplangat secured Uganda’s second gold of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Sunday, claiming the men’s marathon title in 2:08:53.

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It was once again a blisteringly hot day in the Hungarian capital but Kiplangat was well-prepared for the conditions and pulled away from the pack on the final 10km lap to take the victory.

Despite a fall after the 30km mark, Israel’s Maru Teferi managed to overtake Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase to claim the silver in 2:09:12. Gebresilase took the bronze in 2:09:19 with Lesotho’s Tebello Ramakongoana coming in fourth in a personal best time of 2:09:57.

All the glory goes to Uganda ??

Commonwealth Games champion Victor Kiplangat is the fastest in the endgame of the men's marathon ??

2:08:53 for the win.#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/gN5ur0Gh5U

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 27, 2023

“It was hard today because it was so hot but I felt comfortable because I prepared well for this weather,” said Kiplangat afterwards. “I knew it was possible because I had trained well. It was a dream and a mission and I did it today.”

Speaking about the race itself, the Ugandan explained: “When I reached 30km I knew I felt strong and decided to push. I had great energy and that allowed me to go. Then at 35km I could surge again. That was always my plan and I managed to do it.

“The pace was high but I had more to give. It was tough but I always felt I had the power. I knew the Ethiopian was close but I was sure it was my day.

“This is my happy moment. God has given me springs, he has given me opportunities and now I am a world champion. Back home they will be celebrating this victory. My wife and my children, my fans and my whole nation will be proud of me and this gold medal.”

Last year, Kiplangat gave those fans a scare when he took a wrong turn in the last 2km of the Commonwealth Games marathon in Birmingham. But he had built up such a lead that he still had the time to get back on track and win the gold. That was the moment he set his sights on the world title.

“This has been my dream and it has come true at last. Last year I was Commonwealth Games champion and that made me think this year I must become world champion. Now my prayers have been answered and hopefully next year in Paris I will become Olympic champion too.”

STRUGGLING WITH THE HEAT

Gebresilase admitted that, coming from Ethiopian winter, he had struggled with the scorching heat in Budapest.

“These changes in the weather conditions are very difficult for us,” he said. “I tried to keep the pace in front of the group but after 35km, my legs started to feel very painful. I am very sorry that Ethiopians could not win a gold in the men's marathon because it was the main goal of our team. But we are going to continue to train hard to take our glory back. We always have a very strong team at the long distances.

Lesotho’s Ramakongoana may have missed out on a medal, but he was thrilled with his performance on Sunday.

“I'm very satisfied with my results, this is a good omen before the Olympics, where I want to run my best too. It was a perfect preparation for this. The weather wasn't to my liking, so I'm very happy to be in the top five and get my personal best,” he said. “This is a very hot day, so I had to overcome difficult moments, and fortunately it worked. I tried to push to catch the top three. I think I can build on this for next year.”

Seven of the top 10 places in the men’s marathon went to African athletes with Uganda’s Stephen Kissa finishing fifth in 2:10:22, Ethiopian Milkesa Mengesha sixth in 2:10:43, Kenya’s Titus Kipruto eighth in 2:10:47 and Rwanda’s John Hakizimana ninth in 2:10:50.

Back at the track, tonight’s final session of the World Athletics Championships will see several more of the continent’s finest distance stars in action in the men’s 5000m final at 8.20pm.

Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Ugandan Hamilah Nakaayi will be gunning for glory in the women’s 800m final at 8.45pm while the women’s 3000m steeple chase is sure to feature more African medallists, starting at 9.05pm.

Egypt’s Ihab Abdelrahman will contest the men’s javelin final, starting at 8.15pm.

In the penultimate event of the championships, Botswana will be in action in the men’s 4x400m relay at 9.37pm.