Victor Kiplangat delivered an outstanding performance to give Uganda its first Commonwealth Games marathon gold medal on Saturday in Birmingham.
The 22-year-old finished more than a minute and a half ahead of Tanzania’s 2017 world bronze medalist Alphonce Felix Simbu, clocking 2hr 10min 55sec.
As he took bronze, Michael Githae of Kenya wiggled his finger and smiled at the spectators in the finishing straight, more than two minutes behind the winner.
Long-time leader Luke Adams of Australia made a valiant effort to give his country its third consecutive victory in the event, but had to settle for fourth.
The medalists, who were draped in their respective national flags, delighted the crowd gathered at the finish line in central Birmingham by approaching and chatting with them.
The women’s race was still in its early stages, but defending champion Helalia Johannes of Namibia, 41, was confident she could win again.
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Johannes is not the oldest runner in the small but elite field; Australia’s Sinead Diver, 45, is the Games’ oldest competitor in athletics.
