Stephen Kiprotich headlines Uganda’s trio that are set to go for a podium finish in the IAAF World Athletics Championship’s challenging midnight marathon in Doha.
The much awaited men’s marathon will have 100 participants with the event set to start at midnight due to the temperature in the Middle-Eastern region.
The marathon, first of its kind, will be held along Doha’s famous Corniche area late in the night when the temperature will have dropped nearer to 30C.
Fred Musoba and Solomon Mutai are the other Ugandans that will be seeking to beat a Kenya – Ethiopian dominated contingent.
Mutai won bronze in 2015 at the Beijing World Championship before clinching Silver in the 2018 Commonwealth marathon.
Uganda’s main hope will be in Kiprotich who won the IAAF Moscow 2013 Marathon in 2:09:51. He had won an Olympic gold earlier in London in 2012 in a winning time of 2:08:01.
Kiprotich’s career is regarded by many back at home as all but done, however, a podium finish this year in Hamburg where he clocked 02:08.31 to finish behind Ethiopia’s Abshero Ayele and winner Abate Tadu may be something of hope.
History suggests Kenyans or Ethiopians, and this is a no brainer.
Defending champion Geoffrey Kirui, Ethiopian pair Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun are expected to cruise.
