Victor Kiplangat Wins Uganda’s First-Ever Commonwealth Games Marathon Gold

Victor Kiplangat has won Uganda’s first-ever Commonwealth Games marathon gold in Birmingham.

The 22-year-old first took a wrong turn about a mile from the finish on Saturday.

He still managed to win the race in 2 hours 10 minutes 55 seconds.

“The people riding the motorcycles were confusing me,” he told SuperSport.

He added: “They told me to turn back. But I still made it to the finish.”

Despite his wrong turn, Kiplangat finished more than a minute and a half clear of Tanzania’s 2017 world bronze medallist Alphonce Simbu.

“I believe Uganda is proud of me today. We have been waiting for this,” he said, adding: “I believe I shall be a great man like (Uganda’s) Joshua Cheptegei and (Kenya’s Eliud) Kipchoge,” he said.

Kenya’s Michael Githae took the bronze medal, more than two minutes behind the winner.

In the women’s race, 34-year-old Australia’s Jessica Stenson, timed 2:27.31, finishing 29 seconds clear of Margaret Mariuki of Kenya.

Defending champion Helalia Johannes of Namibia produced a remarkable run at 41 to take the bronze.