Kiplangat’s title defense crumbles in Tokyo as Uganda’s marathon hopes fade
Tokyo – Uganda’s hopes for marathon glory at the 2025 World Athletics Championships were decisively dashed in the early hours of Monday morning as defending champion Victor Kiplangat finished a distant 15th, failing utterly to retain his title.
With the nation’s iconic distance stars, Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, absent to focus on next month’s races, Kiplangat was thrust into the role of favorite. However, he could not replicate the heroics that earned him gold in Budapest, crossing the line in a time of 2:11:33, well off the pace of the leaders.
The race was won in a thrilling finish by Tanzania’s Alphonce Felix Simbu, who edged Germany’s Amanal Petros on the line to clock 2:09:48 and become Tanzania’s first-ever world marathon champion. Italy’s Iliass Aouani took the bronze medal in 2:09:53.
Kiplangat’s defeat means he misses the chance to join an elite group of legends Abel Anton, Jaouad Gharib, and Abel Kirui as the only athletes to have won multiple World Marathon titles.
The Ugandan contingent suffered further disappointment. Abel Chelangat narrowly missed the podium, finishing fifth in a respectable 2:10:11. The team’s challenges were compounded as both Solomon Mutai and Stephen Kissa failed to finish the race.
With the marathon chapter closed, the aura of expectation for Team Uganda now shifts to steeplechaser Peruth Chemutai. The accomplished athlete is seeking a coveted world title to add to her impressive collection, which includes the 2020 Olympic gold, a silver from the Paris Olympics, and a Commonwealth Games bronze.
