Ugandan athlete Victor Kiplangat emerged victorious in the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest on Sunday, displaying a remarkable performance in the final third of the race to secure a commanding lead over his competitors.
Kiplangat, who is also the Commonwealth champion, completed the marathon with a winning time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 53 seconds on the streets of the Hungarian capital. His decisive surge in the last 15 kilometers left his rivals trailing behind.
Teru Meferi, originally from Ethiopia but representing Israel, secured second place with a time of 2:09.12, building on his European silver from the previous year. Ethiopian athlete Leul Gebresilase clinched the bronze medal, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:09.19.
During the race, Kiplangat and his Ugandan teammate Stephen Kissa, along with Ethiopians Gebresilase, Tsegaye Getachew, and Tamirat Tola, along with Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, maintained a tight grouping until the 30-kilometer mark, completing it in 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Kissa encountered a stumble after accidentally stepping on Kiplagat’s heel, enabling Kiplangat to break away from the lead pack along with Gebresilase.
Over the subsequent 5 kilometers, the 23-year-old Kiplangat executed a powerful surge that allowed him to create a significant gap between himself and the lead pack, with Gebresilase trailing behind by 15 seconds.
Meferi skillfully advanced through the field, securing the silver medal, while the reigning world champion, Tola, who had set a championship record in Eugene the previous year, was unable to finish the race.
Kissa displayed resilience after his fall and managed to recover to secure fifth place, closely trailing Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho.
Kiplangat’s victory marks an outstanding accomplishment in the world of athletics and adds to his already impressive achievements as a Commonwealth champion.
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