Mutai wins silver medal in marathon

Uganda's Munyo Solomon Mutai holds his national flag as he runs toward the finish line of the athletics men's marathon final during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Southport Broadwater Parklands venue on the Gold Coast on April 15, 2018. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • Uganda fielded 69 athletes who participated in Track and Field events, Badminton, Squash, Boxing, Rugby, Netball, Weightlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling and Shooting

Uganda's Solomon Munyo Mutai has won a silver medal in the athletics men's marathon final during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Southport Broadwater Parklands venue on the Gold Coast.

Mutai finished in a time of 2:19:02 behind Australia's Michael Shelly 2:16:46.

Scotland's Robbie Simpson finished in third place, while the other Ugandan runners Alex Chesakit and Robert Chemonges were seventh and tenth respectively.

" I am happy that Mutai has rediscovered his good form to win a medal at the Commonwealth games," Dominic Otuchet, President of the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) told this reporter on phone from Australia. Otuchet said that he is glad that out of the 23 athletes who qualified to represent Uganda at the Games, four have managed to win medals.

Mutai won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

His silver medal brings Uganda's total number of medals won at the Games to six. Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei won two gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races, while Stella Chesang bagged the women's 10,000m gold medal and Mercyline Chelangat bagged a bronze in the same race. Boxer Juma Miiro picked a bronze medal in the 46-49kg weight category.

Uganda fielded 69 athletes who participated in Track and Field events, Badminton, Squash, Boxing, Rugby, Netball, Weightlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling and Shooting.