The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has announced the athletes who will represent the country in the marathon events at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships.  

UAF president the Rev. Dominic Otucet offered his congratulations to the selected athletes before wishing them the very best in Budapest come August 19-27, 2023.  

“On behalf of UAF, our country and my own behalf, I appreciate the lucky athletes in the marathon event at the forthcoming World Champs,” Otucet said.  

Kiplangat will aim at making it two in two.

“It is time to stand up and defend our country at such a prestigious stage, again.”  

In the men’s category, the trio include reigning Commonwealth Games champion Victor Kiplangat, the event’s national record holder Stephen Kissa and Lille Metropole Half–Marathon 2022 champion Andrew Rotich Kwemboi. 

UPDF club’s Rebecca Cheptegei, 2019 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, Mercyline Chelangat and the versatile, Doreen Chesang make up the women’s category.  

Chelangat, 25, impressed in her marathon debut that came two months ago in the Netherlands.  

National marathon record holder Stella Chesang was left out so as to allow her concentrate on 10km event.

Chelangat, an Inspector of the Uganda Police Force, lined up in the women’s elite field at the Enschede Marathon over the 42-kilometre distance in her debut to win a silver medal. 

The police officer came home with a clock of 2:24.12 (One hour, twenty-four minutes and twelve microseconds) just behind the eventual winner Shyline Teroitich of Kenya who cruised at 2hrs:22mins.  

Rebecca Cheptegei qualified for Budapest via Abu Dhabi Marathon in December 2022 where she cruised at 2hrs:22mins.47microseconds.  

Like Chelangat, Cheptegei has also decided to move up the distance to the 42-kilometre event having made her name in the middle and long-distance events.  

The third female marathoner for team Uganda, Doreen Chesang, sailed through with the clock at 2hrs:26mins.31seconds. 

The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold winner over the 10000m distance who doubles as the female marathon national record holder opted to focus on the 10km category.  

The mens’ team will have work cut out given the fact that Kissa, Kiplangat and Kwemboi are all talented runners. 

In 2022, Kissa broke Felix Malewa Chemonges’ national record of 2hrs:05mins by lowering it to 2hrs:04mins.48 seconds, finishing second, at the Hamburg Marathon.  

Kissa is still undergoing a transition from 5000m, 10000m and 21km events to full marathon. 

Overall, his most recent performances have been a mixed bag of results. 

At the Chicago marathon in October 2022, he placed 21st after stepping in a hole while in Tokyo, the Kapchorwa-born long-distance specialist suffered a cramp in the left leg.  

Kiplangat is probably the most primed Ugandan medal hopeful in this event given the fact that he triumphed at last year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games. 

Kiplangat, trained by veteran coach Addy Ruiter took some time off to recover from his Birmingham action before returning to take part in the Manchester event.  

Kiplangat who had experienced visa delays, arrived in Manchester on the eve of the competition only to pull his hamstring after the 5km mark. 

Eventually, Kiplangat, who is yet to finish outside the top four in the full marathon, placed 11th at the Greater Manchester 10K Run. 

Knowing that in Budapest there will not be room for error, the Global Sports Communication runner who turns out for the Police club has been embroiled in tense training.  

According to coach Ruiter, “Kiplangat is very okay and daring to go”.   

Both Kiplangat and Kissa are Uganda’s current fastest marathoners.  

They will be joined by Kwemboi of Rosa Associati International Management Agency, who is the World Cross Country champion, Jacob Kiplimo’s training patterner.  

UG MENS' MARATHON TEAM FOR BUDAPEST 2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. Victor Kiplangat

2. Stephen Kissa

3. Andrew Rotich Kwemboi

Women team

1. Mercyline Chelangat

2. Rebbeca Cheptegei

3. Doreen Chesang