Stephen Kiprotich wins gold in Moscow
Aug 17, 2013
Ugandan marathoner Stephen Kiprotich beats all to win gold in the marathon of the World Athletics Championships.
IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Men's marathon
By Joseph Kizza
MOSCOW - Ugandan marathoner Stephen Kiprotich has beaten all to win gold in the marathon of the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.
The London 2012 gold winner replicated his heroics on the Moscow course he had approved of as "perfect" ahead of the triumphant Saturday race. Indeed the perfect course saw him rise to perfection as he crossed the finish line before everyone else.
An aerial shot of Ugandans Kiprotich and Jackson Kiprop going under one of the bridges in Moscow. (PHOTO/Norman Katende)
He clocked 2:09:51, beating two Ethiopians to the finish line. Lelisa Desisa Benti came in second (2:10:12) and his fellow countryman Tadese Tola finished third with a time of 2:10:23.
Uganda's next best runner Jackson Kiprop finished in tenth (10th) with 2:12:12. The other, Abraham Kiplimo (2:16:25) finished 19th.
Kiprotich runs wide of the cooling points along the marathon route. (PHOTO/Norman Katende)
This victory makes it a second for Kiprotich, who last year became the only Ugandan after John Akii-bua to win an Olympic gold for the east African nation.
Just as he had started off in the lead right from the sound GO on Saturday, the Ugandan now-double gold medalist completed the 42km exhausting race in pure fashion, looking like he could go another mile or so even after breaking the finish line.
Kiprotich, arms out-stretched, crosses the finish line after his majestic run around Moscow. (PHOTO/Norman Katende)
He put up a convincing show of excellence as he tethered along with the leading pack from the very start up to the dying minutes of the race, when he finally decided it was time to break away, replicating a move he shocked two Kenyan athletes with in last year's London marathon.
This time, the victims were Ethiopians, who nevertheless won silver and bronze for their second and third finishes.
Kiprotich holds aloft the Ugandan flag after crossing the finish line. (PHOTO/Norman Katende)
In that athletic body of Kiprotich lay a cocktail of determination, focus and energy to get him going up to the very last point of the race.
This time though, he did not have to turn back, with the finish line in sight, to recieve a Ugandan flag from a fan, as it was the case last year.
Kiprotich is congratulated by running mate Jackson Kiprop after his triumph. (PHOTO/Norman Katende)
He raced to his final destination while punching his clenched fists in the air with the satisfaction of convincing triumph painted all over his smiling face.
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The race as it happened
Ethiopian challengers admit Kiprotich was 'better'
**FULL RESULTS BELOW
World Championships Marathon Official Results. by The New Vision