Kiprotich: Beating Kenyan marathoners excites me

Uganda’s Olympic and World marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich has told his Kenyan and Ethiopian rivals to forget upstaging him to the world title this year.

Kiprotich, who was the chief sports celebrity guest at the 2014 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) on Friday, said he is not cowed by some of the fastest times in marathon being set by Kenyan athletes.

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The 25-year-old has emerged as one of the most astute championship event racer, winning both the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2013 Moscow World Championships marathon titles.

Interestingly, Kiprotich had on both occasions trained with the Kenyan marathoners in Iten before going ahead to stun them in both events.

The Ugandan won the London 2012 Olympic Marathon in 2:08:01, beating Kenyans Abel Kirui (2:08:27) and Wilson Kipsang (2:09:37), who finished second and third, respectively.

AFFIRMED PROWESS

The Ugandan would affirm his prowess once again during the World Athletics Championships, beating Kenyan and Ethiopian pre-race favourites for the marathon crown in Moscow in 2:09:51 after an injury prevented Abel Kirui, the 2009 and 2011 winner, from defending his title.

At the Moscow Worlds, Ethiopians Lelisa Desisa (2:10:12) and Tadese Tola (2:10:23) settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Kenya’s Peter Some was the best-placed Kenyan, coming in ninth in 2:11:47, as Kiprotich’s training mates Bernard Kipyego (2:14:01) and Michael Kipyego (2:17:47) finished 12th and 25th, respectively.

"Ugandans enjoy competing against Kenyans because they have a lot to learn from them. I get pleasure from training with them and I also feel great beating them too," said Kiprotich. “The Kenyans could be holding world records and some for the fastest times, but I don’t fear them since championship races are different.”

“I am told the weather conditions in Beijing will be tougher as compared (with) the hot and humid conditions when I won in Moscow," said Kiprotich. “You become a real champion when you win under such conditions and I like them that way.”

A TRAIL OF RECORDS

Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto blazed his way to a marathon world record of 2:02:57 at the Berlin Marathon on September 28 last year. Kimetto outclassed fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai, running 2:03:13 to also dip below the previous best mark set by Wilson Kipsang on the same course in 2013.

Kipsang clocked 2:03:23 to also break Patrick Makau’s previous time of 2:03:38 that he set at the 2011-Berlin.

Kiprotich, who is set for the Tokyo Marathon on February 22, said he has already started intensive training, alternating between Iten and Kapchorwa, Uganda, as he also prepares for the World Championships due August 22-30 in Beijing, China.

The Soya Gala was Kiprotich’s first public appearance since he lost his 19-month-old daughter Liz Chelangat on January 2.