Gold for Kiprotich: As it happened

Aug 17, 2013

How Stephen Kiprotich rose to the occasion to win the men''s marathon in Moscow on Saturday.

By Kizza Joseph

2.00pm - The marathon at the World Championships starts in 30 minutes at 2.30pm. Uganda is led by Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich. This is the Ugandan team: Abraham Kiplimo (Season best 2:13:32, Personal best 2:13:32; Bib 1079) Jackson Kiprop (Season best 2:09:32 Personal best 2:09:32; Bib 1080) Stephen Kiprotich (Season best 2:08:05 Personal best 2:07:20)

2.25pm - The marathoners are out on the track at Luzhniki and we will be getting started in about five minutes.

2.30 pm: Race starts. Conditions are significantly milder than they were for the women's marathon a week ago. In the shade it is cool.

WHO IS WHO?

2.35pm: We are six minutes into the run, which started off with Uganda's Kiprotich taking the lead on the track. It's now a battle on the open course! Will he keep the lead to the very end?

STEADY RUN
2.46pm: It's a run-in-a-pack moment on the Moscow course. The Ethiopians are leading the entire pack with their own little one, with the Ugandan pack closely keeping up from not so behind.

2.50pm: Around this time of the year last year (June), not all eyes were focusing on that one Ugandan athlete called Stephen Kiprotich in the 2012 London Olympics. Well, not until the moments towards the end of the historic race that saw the young marathoner who hails from Kapchorwa in eastern Uganda win gold for his country. This time round, all eyes are set on him. Will he replicate his heroism? Race on!

TIGHT
3.00pm: 32 minutes into the race and an Ethiopian, whom I am yet to pick out well by name, is leading the whole pack. His intentions are out there in the open. "Peel away from the rest!" he must be thinking. Well, he is a couple of yards ahead, but right in tow is the rest of the group. A Kenyan there, another Ethipioan, another Kenyan. Kiprotich is in 9th place now. He looks calm.

3.07pm: Time check: 40.05 minutes. The time seems to be racing ahead of the race! It's a pacy run upfront. A pack of Kenyans is running tightly together right behind the Ethiopian who has managed to steady his determination at the pin-point front. Kiprotich is the only of the three Ugandans in the race in the fastest group so far. Very reminiscent of last year's historic marathon, innit?

Meanwhile, the sun's all out, but under Russian weather, that doesn't necessarily translate to sweltering temperatures on the ground. The runners could be sweaty but you out there in the crowd should be holding on tight to your cardigan. Brrrrr!

MOSCOW
It's all happening in the Russian city of Moscow folks!

KIP RUNNING
3.25pm: The leading group is still featuring the same runners. Ethiopians, Kenyans, Ugandans, and one Eritrean who has shown his determination to keep up with the 'Kips'. Are you surprised over who is who in the leading pack? Not me! The eastern Africans have long proved they are the best of the best when it comes to long-distance running. And the script is reading pretty much the same today. We are approaching the hour-mark now.

OVER THE HOUR
3.33pm: It's a little over the hour mark now and the book is still reading the same. A couple of cheers and hand-claps are put together by the committed crowds along the route, ever pushing the runners on. Ethiopians, Kenyans and two Ugandans, who include, Kiprotich, are still in the lead. Whatever is going through each athlete's mind now!

ETHIOPIA LEADING

3.50pm: No notable 'substitutes' in the leading group as Uganda maintains two of its own in up there. But they have to keep up with a group of fellow athletes who are clearly driving forward every bit of the course on the engine of determination and endurance. From an aerial view, the leading pack looks quite bigger with the shadows of the runners keeping up with their 'masters'. It is as tight from here as it is on the road. Nothing comes easy, right. What gives folks?

3.55pm: With 1 hour 28 minutes so far ran (going by the leading group's pace), it is no doubt we are less than 40 minutes away. The finish line is that far. But who has the will and power to push on and get there first? Has any of you watched Rat Race? That movie that features a whole crazy pack of the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, John Cleese? All racing for one million dollars? Or, if you haven't watched that, then you definitely haven't missed out on The Amazing Race....that amazing American reality TV race show? It's all about the will folks!

Let's get back on the Moscow course now. Time check: 1 hour 28 minutes ran so far.

CURVING AWAY

LESS THAN 25 MINUTES TO GO!
4.12pm: Very soon, this will be over. With less than 25 minutes left now, it is three Ethiopians, two Ugandans and one Kenyan left in the leading pack. Uganda's hope remains in the form of two determined running objects in the form of Kiprop and Kiprotich. But now this where things get a whole lot messy and tricky. Remember how the then-little known young man from Kapchorwa broke away from his two Kenyan challengers, going all the way to win gold? Can Uganda see something like this again? But now he and his fellow countryman have to beat a huge force of three Ethiopians who are looking determined to go straight for the kill !!!

JAPANESE IN THE MIX
4.20pm: The script has finally changed! It is Kiprotich in the lead, three Ethiopians high on his heels and a JAPANESE! Now this is intense. Meanwhile, the Ugandan gold Olympian is clinging onto his lead as the time ticks away, never letting go of it. TIGHT!

KIP SIPS AND KEEPS IN THE LEAD!
4.25pm: Okay please if you are on high-blood pressure medication, please look away here! Uganda's Kiprotich reaches out for a bottle of water as he maintains his lead in the dying minutes of the heated race. But the duo of Ethiopians right under his nose are showing no way of backing away. It's the three in the very lead. Right behind are hungrier lions too! Could this be another of that delightful moment in Uganda's historical books? Or are you busy wondering what speed these guys are pacing? Please don't try this at home!

GOING FOR GOLD!
4.33pm: He is still the man to beat!..... final minutes ladies and gentlemen and Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich is shaking off a formiddable force of three Ethiopians. And . . . .

4.39pm: . . . the Ugandan breaks away from his Ethiopian challengers . . . and runs solo into the stadium . . . . he is making it look easier than we can imagine folks . . . . he knows it's all over. A quick but comfortable glance over his right shoulder to make sure no one is creeping behind on him . . . and finally he sprints (or does he jog?) to a convincing victory past the FINISH LINE. He does it again ladies and gentlemen. He clocks 2:09:59.

His brilliant performance has yet again eclipsed a disappointing showcase of Team Uganda at a major athletics event. He played his cards smart. In fact, he even has the strength to dance a bit on the track (not certain which type of dance it is). But most importantly, it's victory for STEPHEN KIPROTICH and it's victory for UGANDA!

GOLD FOR STEPHEN KIPROTICH!