Athletics: Kiprotich claims marathon title

LONDON: Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich stunned a strong Kenyan team to win the men’s Olympic marathon, handing his east African nation only their second ever gold medal. Kiprotich timed two hours, eight minutes and one second on the spectacular course around the streets of central London, with two-time defending world champion Abel Kirui claiming silver in 2:08.27. Another Kenyan, long-time leader Wilson Kipsang, took bronze in 2:09.37. “I am very happy to win a medal for my country,” beamed Kiprotich. “I love my people. Uganda are very happy because we haven’t won a medal in marathon races. The pace was too fast and I knew I could not run away from them so I just had to keep up with them. I tried to settle and then I had to break away because I wanted to win this medal.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2012.