Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich Finishes 4th in Tokyo Marathon 2016

Posted by: lukwago J in Sports News February 28, 2016

Uganda’s Olympic and 2013 world champion Stephen Kiprotich finished fourth in the Tokyo marathon today in a time of 2:07:46. The race was won by Ethiopia‘s Feyisa Lilesa in 2:06:55.^[9] The Ugandan legend’s time, although well below his personal best of 2:06:33 when he finished second last year, is 13 mins into the Olympic qualification time of 2:19:00.^[2]

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Kiprotich is expected to captain the Uganda team to the Rio Olympics.^[1] The Uganda Athletics Federation is yet to confirm the full list of track and field athletes making it to Rio, as several Ugandans have hit the qualifying mark in the marathon in particular in the past year.^[10]

Qualification runs until July,^[6] a month to the start of the games.

Before the race, Kiprotich, 27 said he is preparing well to defend his Olympic title, but that he first he needs to make the team. “In 2012 I was selected based on my third-place finish in Tokyo,” he said. “On Sunday, I could be selected if I can show a good performance.”^[3]

Good job Kiprotich!

He celebrated his birthday yesterday in Tokyo and is expected to get a “present” of over Uganda sh20 million for finishing fourth.^[5] The women’s title was taken by Kenya‘s Helah Kiprop who broke the course record.

Kiprop, second in the race last year,^[3] clocked a time of two minutes, 21.27 seconds to break the record previously held by Ethiopia’s Tirfi Tsegaye (2014).

Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa stormed to victory in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday after a devastating late burst of pace left Kenyan rival Dickson Chumba for dead.^[1]

Lilesa,^[4] a former world bronze medallist, kicked for home with around two kilometres (1.25 miles) to go and clocked 2 hr 6 min 56 sec under sunny skies to claim his first major marathon title.^[7]

Two years ago Chumba won the Tokyo race,^[9] one of the six majors on the marathon circuit, but he had no answer to Lilesa’s late surge and eventually took third after being caught by fellow Kenyan Kiprop Kipyego with the finish line in sight.

Kenyan Helah Kiprop won the women’s race in a time of 2:21:27 ahead of Ethiopia’s Birhane Dibaba, the defending Tokyo champion.^[3]

More than 36,000 took part in the 10th edition of the race which winds through the streets of Tokyo, including thousands of fun runners in fancy dress.^[1]

Source: independent

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