Athletics review: Kiplangat’s gold in Budapest caps huge year 

In recent years, the sporting headlines have been monopolized by Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei who have established themselves as Uganda’s genuine world-class athletes today.

But in Budapest at the 19th edition of the World Athletics Championships in Hungary this year, marathoner Victor Kiplangat entrenched himself as a new kid on the block with a remarkable gold medal. It was the country’s first World Athletics Championship marathon gold in a decade – Stephen Kiprotich had delivered Uganda’s first in Moscow, Russia in 2013 – and it came in the aftermath of his Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth gold.

Kiplangat broke away on his own with about 4km to go to cross the finish line with a time of two hours, 8 minutes, 53 seconds – 19 seconds ahead of Isreal’s Maru Teferi. In achieving the victory, he was the first non-Ethiopian to win the marathon at the Championships since 2017.

That triumph can only give him the confidence and belief needed, going into next year’s Olympics that will be hosted in the French capital of Paris. Uganda’s only other marathon golf was also won by Kiprotich at the 2012 edition in London. Jacob Kiplimo had set the tone for
the season by winning gold at the World Cross-Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.

He held off Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi and Cheptegei in a time of 29:17. Sadly, Kiplimo was injured by the time the Budapest games came calling and he missed out on having a go at the 5,000 and 10,000m. Cheptegei, in the meantime, ensconced his name among the true greats of long-distance running by winning the 10,000m final to seal his legacy.

Having won it all and with nothing left to prove, Cheptegei made his debut in marathon running early this month in Valencia, Spain. The decision to debut at the longest road race was informed by the realization that his body was becoming prone to injuries due to multiple speed sessions.

Cheptegei would finish 37th but was not too downcast. “It’s the most powerful lesson of my life,” he said afterwards. “But I have more episodes to write in the marathon.”

It remains to be seen what races he will take part in come Paris 2024, but what is most apparent is that that will be his last Olympics edition on the track. In the ladies, Winnie Nanyondo’s season was another frustration after she seemed to be affected by hurdles which seemed to be more mental than physical.

Meanwhile, her close friend and former 800m world champion Halimah Nakaayi switched coaches from Addy Ruiter to Tim Rowberry in the hope that she can regain her mojo. Rowberry also coaches Dutchwoman Sifa Hassan, one of the world’s leading female middle and long-distance athletes.

One athlete to watch out from Uganda ahead of 2024 is Prisca Chesang, whose career continues to enjoy a meteoric rise. She is a two-time 5,000m U-20 bronze medalist and has all the qualities to become a household name in middle and long-distance running in the years to come.