Kiprop in Kosice, Kiplangat to pace London field

Victor Kiplangat could become the next big thing for Uganda in road running, according to his coach Addy Ruiter at the NN Running camp in Kapchorwa.

The 21-year-old is striking the perfect codes and will soon debut over the full marathon. To get the perfect preparation, Kiplangat will today act as a pace setter for the elite field at the London Marathon.

“It’s a good preparation,” said Ruiter. “It will give him more experience on how everything is organised around the marathon, especially when it is one of the most famous marathons.” He will set pace for a field which comprises seven sub-2:04 performers like Ethiopians Birhanu Legese and Mosinet Geremew as well as Kenyans Titus Ekiru and Evans Chebet.

This is the second time in seven days that a Ugandan is acting as a pacemaker at a World Marathon Major (WMM).

Kiplangat’s colleague Stephen Kissa also set pace for Kenenisa Bekele and company during the Berlin Marathon in Germany last Sunday.

“And he can practice to get used to collecting drink bottles from the tables at the drink station,” added Ruiter.

Kiplangat did a similar job when his training partner Joshua Cheptegei successfully broke the 10000m world record in Valencia, Spain a year ago.

And the 2017 World Mountain Running champion Kiplangat delivered almost the same task for the field in company of Jackson Kiprop at the NN Marathon in Enschede, Netherlands back in April.
But, Kiprop will today attempt to qualify for the Oregon World Championships when he lines-up for the 42km race at the Kosice Marathon in Slovakia.

At 34, Kiprop has accumulated 17 career races and being Uganda’s second most experienced marathoner should count as he bids to beat the qualifying standard of two hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds.