Kiprotich has the ability to perform better

By James Bakama 

 

DOUBTS were already being raised about Stephen Kiprotich’s form. The question marks were understandable. 

 

Kiprotich had since triumphing at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow failed to make it to the top four in three marathons. 

 

So, when this lean runner from Kapchorwa bounced back on Sunday finishing second at the prestigious Tokyo Marathon, there was reason to take note. 

 

Second position was good enough. 

 

But the fact that Kiprotich attained this feat in national record time was bold proof that we are yet to see the best of the 26-year-old athlete. 

 

Kiprotich, who previously held the national record at two hours 07:20 minutes, clocked 2. 06:33 minutes on Sunday. 

 

Shading off 47 seconds from your personal best is no mean feat. 

 

And for those who followed the race, there were even more signs of the winner in Kiprotich. With about 10 meters to the finishing line, he produced a devastating kick racing past Kenyan Dickson Chumba to finish second. 

 

This kind of finish in many ways reminded me of London and Moscow. It was with similar sprints that Kiprotich brushed off serious Kenyan and Ethiopian opposition to take gold. 

 

With Tokyo now finished, Kiprotich now has five months to prepare for the World Championships and thereafter the New York Marathon. Gold in Beijing will make Kiprotich soar to new heights. 

 

He will become the first person in the marathon to win the Olympics and thereafter two world championships. 

 

If he can win both these races, which I now believe he can, then he will also be assured of picking the World Marathon Majors $0.5m jackpot. 

 

I would love to see other Ugandan runners like Wilson Kiprop and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Abraham Kiplimo in similar form. 

 

Countries like Ethiopia and Kenya are dominating the marathon largely due to teamwork. 

 

Countries like Kenya tactfully include pace setters in their teams. These stretch opponents until that point in the race when stronger runners step out to take charge. 

 

Kiprotich was also a beneficiary of such teamwork in Moscow. At that time, Kiprop did most of the front running before allowing a stronger Kiprotich to surge into the lead to take gold. 

 

But even when left alone, Kiprotich has proved that he can battle it out to victory. 

 

The London Olympics were a classic example of Kiprotich’s fighting spirit. Kenyans Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang seemed in total control. 

 

But that was until the 37km point when Kiprotich raced past them and refused to surrender the lead up to the finish. 

 

If there is one thing that Kiprotich’s performance on Sunday underlined, it is the fact that he can reproduce, if not even better, the London and Moscow performances. 

 

Don’t be surprised if Kiprotich further improves on his record in the near future. We are yet to see the best of him.