adminMOSCOW. — Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich added to his medal haul by beating Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa and Tadese Tola in the men’s marathon at the World Championships on Saturday.Kiprotich also became the first non-Kenyan since 2005 to win the men’s marathon at the world championships.
The Ugandan broke away from Boston Marathon winner Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia in the shaded park around Luhzniki Stadium for a title he capped with a little dance past the finishing line.
Another Ethiopian, Tadese Tola, took bronze on a warm afternoon in the Russian capital. Kiprotich beat two Kenyans at the London Olympics, but none was in the top three for the first time at a world championship since 2005.
Kenyans had won the last three world titles and were widely expected to boost the position of their nation in the medal standings, where it is currently third behind the United States and host Russia.
It was Uganda’s first men’s world title in the 30-year history of the championships.
“I am so happy I won another gold medal for my country,” Kiprotich said. “Now I am the Olympic and world champion.”
The Ugandan led with two kilometres remaining, despite heavy pressure, and went on to enter the Luzhniki Stadium 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
His time of two hours, nine minutes and 51 seconds was 21 seconds clear of Desisa in second and Tola in third.
No Kenyans were in the top three for the first time since 2005.
Desisa, who led at the half-way stage, took the race up a gear in the final five kilometres, leading a group that included his compatriots Tola and Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Tsegaye Kabede.
Kiprotich was aware of the threat from the Ethiopian trio and upped the pace to share the front-running with two kilometres to go.
But, in what was a great final kilometre, Desisa found himself in Kiprotich’s slipstream, as the Ugandan tried to shake him off by weaving tightly around the corners.
Kiprotich entered the stadium on his own to rapturous applause and celebrated becoming the first non-Kenyan to win the title since 2005 before he had crossed the line.
No Kenyans were in the top three for the first time at a world championship since 2005. Kenyans had won the past three world titles. The best Kenyan on a sunny and warm afternoon in Moscow was Peter Some in ninth place. — BBC Sport.
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