Victor Kiplangat of Uganda secured a resounding victory in the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest on Sunday, showcasing a remarkable final stretch that left his competitors trailing behind.
The reigning Commonwealth champion demonstrated his prowess by completing the marathon in an impressive winning time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 53 seconds on the streets of the Hungarian capital.
His strategic acceleration during the last 15 kilometres of the race allowed him to break free from the pack and secure a convincing lead.
Maru Teferi of Israel, originally from Ethiopia, showcased his consistency by securing the second position with a timing of 2:09:12, building upon his European silver from the previous year. Ethiopian athlete Leul Gebresilase clinched the bronze medal, completing the marathon in 2:09:19.
“This has been my dream and it has come true at last,” expressed an elated Kiplangat. Reflecting on his journey, he added, “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.”
Kiplangat, 23, attributed his success to meticulous preparation and favourable weather conditions. “It was hard today because it was so hot, but I felt comfortable because I prepared well for this weather. I knew it was possible because I had trained well,” he shared.
During the marathon, Kiplangat and his teammate Stephen Kissa, joined by Ethiopian athletes Gebresilase, Tsegaye Getachew, and Tamirat Tola, as well as Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, maintained a tight grouping until the 30-kilometer mark, clocking 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Following a slight stumble by Kissa caused by Kiplagat’s heel, Kiplangat forged ahead in tandem with Gebresilase. Over the subsequent 5 kilometres, Kiplangat executed a decisive surge that effectively distanced him from the lead pack, leaving Gebresilase trailing by 15 seconds.
“When I reached 30km, I knew I felt strong and decided to push,” Kiplangat recounted. “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 always felt I had the power.”
Teferi, who experienced a tumble around the 30km mark, demonstrated resilience and determination as he surged through the field to claim the silver medal. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Tamirat Tola faced unfortunate circumstances and was unable to finish the race due to stomach pains.
Regardless of the challenges posed by sweltering weather conditions, Teferi expressed his satisfaction with his silver medal. “I am grateful I managed to finish with the silver,” he shared. “I wanted to get the best out of me, and this competition was my biggest target. I am glad I managed to fulfil my dream.”
Tamirat Tola, the defending champion from Ethiopia, cited stomach pains as the reason for his withdrawal from the race. Reflecting on his performance, he revealed, “I was trying my best. I was feeling good until 30km. But after that, I started to have a bad feeling in my stomach. I did not sleep the whole night because I had a problem with my stomach, and I was about to puke, but nothing came out because I ate rice with a lot of salt.”
