- Uganda's Kiplangat takes marathon gold

Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat emerged as the winner of the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on August 27. Despite a fall, Maru Teferi of Israel managed to secure the silver medal. Kiplangat, who had previously won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, broke away from the pack with 4 km to go and finished with a time of two hours, 8 minutes, 53 seconds, 19 seconds ahead of Teferi. Initially, it seemed like a close race between Kiplangat and Ethiopia’s Leul Gebresilase, but Gebresilase couldn’t keep up with the pace set by the Ugandan athlete. Kiplangat expressed his confidence and determination, stating that he felt strong at the 30 km mark and decided to push harder. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Gebresilase but believed it was his day to shine. Teferi, who fell during the race but managed to recover and claim the silver medal, expressed his satisfaction with fulfilling his dream. Defending champion Tamirat Tola dropped out of the race due to stomach issues. The race took place on a warm day in Budapest, with the temperature rising steadily after the 7 a.m. start. The early pace set by Ser-Od Bat-Ochir of Mongolia was too fast for the conditions, and he was eventually caught by the chasing pack. Kiplangat’s victory marked a significant achievement for Uganda, as he became the first Ugandan champion since 2013 and the first non-Ethiopian winner since 2017. The women’s marathon, held the day before, saw Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso claim the gold medal.