Uganda’s Kiplangat and Australia’s Stenson win Birmingham Commonwealth Games marathon

Ugandan athlete Victor Kiplangant produced a great marathon performance around the city centre course finishing in 2:10:55 for the win. The route includes two 18km loops as well as a 6.2km section. It is the biggest triumph of his career so far.

An ecstatic Kiplangat, who trains out of the NN Running Team camp in Kapchorwa, said, “I have always dreamt of winning a championship marathon, this first one means a lot to me. I have now won two out of three marathons I ran, it’s a dream coming true! Thanks to my team and teammates for all the support they gave me through the years leading up to this day.”

In his first fully completed marathon, the 22-year-old claimed top spot in the Istanbul Marathon last year and in April, Kiplangat climbed to number two on the all-time Ugandan marathon rankings by running a time of 2:05:09 for fourth in Hamburg.

Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania, a 2017 London World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, and Michael Githae of Kenya won silver and bronze, respectively.

The 30-year-old Simbu owns a personal best of 2:06:20 from Milano in April this year. The 27-year-old Githae owns a best of 2:07:51 from Fukuoka 2021.

Results

The top-three women were Australia’s Jessica Stenson who clocked a 2:27:31 finish time. Kenyan Margaret Wangari Muriuki
took silver just 29 seconds back at 2:28:00 and Namibian Helalia Johannes at age 41 and attempting to defend her title took bronze the time of 2:28:39.

Stenson owns a best of 2:25:15 from Perth 2021.

Stenson described her victory as belonging to the whole team, saying she was expecting a caffeinated gel with her water near the halfway mark of the race, and when it was not there, teammate Eloise Wellings gave the eventual champion her gel. Fellow Aussie and veteran Sinead Driver was also in the race. Wellings and Driver finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Stenson earned bronze during the Gold Coast Games.

The 36-year-old Muriuki entered the meet with a personal best of 2:30:25. The silver medal performance was run in a new best time for her.

Johannes clocked a world-class 2:19:52 two years ago at the age of 39. She holds four national records including the marathon, half-marathon at 67:49 set earlier this year, 5000m (15:124.34), and 10K road (30:59).