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Victor Kiplangat of Uganda is a Most Happy Champion

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By Clay Shaw
Photos Courtesy of Michael Scott
and
Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly

August 27, 2023, Budapest, Hungary, World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023—Running on the same awesome course the women ran on Saturday, the men started in Heroes’ Square at 7 AM Sunday.  The weather was equally hot and humid. 

Ser-Od Bat-Ochir, a 41-year-old runner from Mongolia with a 2:28 best, led for the first 10km loop and then grabbed his hamstring shortly after being caught. He backed off and dropped out.

USA fans didn’t often get to see their athletes. We enjoyed seeing Elkhanah Kibet as he ran in the lead pack for half and later dropped out.  Zach Panning and Nico Montanez weren’t seen on TV until we saw Panning finish.

 Zack Panning of Detroit, MI ran a controlled pace, moving up in the standings throughout, as many athletes faded in the heat and humidity.  Panning finished 13th in 2:11:13. He owns a personal best of 2:09:28 in finishing Chicago in 2022. 

Running the same scenic course as the women did on Saturday, the staffing was perfect with own fluid stations listed by country, and water and sponge stations along the way as well.  The sweating runners were sharing the big sponges.

A 25-man pack went through halfway in 1:05:03 with various runners getting in the front.  It was said that Victor Kiplangat was “driving the truck” at 30k. The race appeared to be down to a Ugandan pair, three Ethiopians, one Kenyan, and a Rwandan, with a small chase pack seen in the distance.

Timothy Kiplagat of Kenyan and Stephen Kissa of Uganda got tangled and went down.  Kissa came back strong after the fall as the leaders were surging on the last loop. Maru Teferi of Israel in the chase pack also crashed to the pavement in nearly the same spot.  Teferi got up, kept his composure, and ran steadily.

Victor Kiplangat of Uganda had 2022 champ Tamirat Tola on his heels, but eventually dropped him. Kiplangat was building a significant lead on the final half of the final 10km loop and savored his 2:08:53 with a flag and the biggest smile ever.

Muru Teferi of Israel earned the silver with steady strong running and keeping his composure after the fall.  Teferi passed Leul Gebresilase near the end.  Teferi ran 2:09:12, and Gebresilase ran 2:09:19.  One of the biggest surprises was fourth place finisher Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho, who ran a huge negative split to pass many of the early lead pack guys to finish fourth in 2:09:57.  Stephen Kissa of Uganda who also took a tumble was fifth in 2:10:22.  The other USA runner to finish was Nico Montanez who was 55th in 2:24:58.  60 men finished, 25 did not.  It was a hot and humid day, but they started at 7AM and there was a fair amount of shade on the course.  Congrats to all. 

Full results

Top Finishers

  1. 2:08:53 Victor Kiplangat, Uganda
  2. 2:09:12 Maru Teferi, Israel
  3. 2:09:19 Leul Gebresilase, Ethiopia
  4. 2:09:57 Tebello Ramakongoana, Lesotho
  5. 2:10:22 Stephen Kissa, Uganda
  6. 2:10:43 Milkesa Mengesha, Ethiopia
  7. 2:10:45 Hassan Chahdi, France
  8. 2:10:47 Titus Kipruto, Kenya
  9. 2:10:50 John Hakizimana, Rwanda
  10. 2:11:06 Daniele Meucci, Italy
  11. 2:11:12 Yohanes Chiappinelli, Italy
  12. 2:11:19 Ichitaka Yamashita, Japan
  13. 2:11:21 Zach Panning, United States
  14. 2:11:25 Timothy Kiplagat, Kenya
  15. 2:11:25 Haftom Welday, Hermany
  16. 2:11:33 Isaac Mpofu, Zimbabwe
  17. 2:11:56 Tsegaye Getachew, Ethiopia
  18. 2:11:59 Mehdi Frere, France
  19. 2:12:16 Rory Linkletter, Canada
  20. 2:11:32 Haimro Alame, Israel
Victor Kiplangat of Uganda was a happy, happy man as he won carrying the Uganda flag toward the finish tape, winning in 2:08:53.
(Photo Credit: Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)
In Heroes’ Square it was Victor Kiplangat who was the marathon hero with a gold medal winning time of 2:08:53.
(Photo Credit: Jane Monti for Race Results Weekly)
Ser-Od Bat-Ochir of Mongolia led the marathon for the first 10k, but soon after being caught and dropped, he left with a hamstring injury.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Early leaders at the World Championships Marathon
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Levente Szemerei of Hungary, cut holes in his team kit, as it was hot and humid. Szemerei was 40th in 2:17:20.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
The lead pack was huge through the halfway split at the World Championships Marathon. The lions of the Szechenyi Lanchid approve. In English, the Chain Bridge. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Elkanah Kibet in the mix at the World Championships Marathon
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Nico Montanez of the USA running in the World Championships Marathon. Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Maxim Raileanu of Moldova was 53rd in 2:22:46. In covering World XC since 2001, it’s the first Moldova kit I have ever seen.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Justin Kent and Ben Preisner of Canada run together at the World Championships Marathon. Kent was 30th in 2:15:26 and Preisner was 28th in 2:15:02.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Uganda runners Stephen Kissa and Victor Kiplangat run together with the Chain Bridge in the backdrop at the World Championships Marathon. Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia was third. Kissa was fifth and Kiplangat won.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Rory Linkletter of Canada was 19th in 2:12:16.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Nico Montanez of USA was 55th in 2:24:58 at World Championships Marathon.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Tebello Ramakongoana of Lesotho was a big surprise, running a personal best at the World Championships Marathon and finishing fourth in 2:09:57.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Titus Kipruto of Kenya and John Hakizimana of Rwanda earn top ten places at the World Championships Marathon. Kipruto was eighth in 2:10:47 and Hakizimana was ninth in 2:10:50.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Daniele Meucci of Italy moved up in the later half of the marathon to place tenth in 2:11:06.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
Zach Panning of the USA smiles as he runs a steady, solid race to place 13th 2:11:21.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
The long home stretch on Andrassy Avenue on the Pest side of Budapest. The buildings provided some shade.
Budapest, Hungary; Aug 27. (c) Mike Scott 2023.
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