Ugandan long distance sensation Jacob Kiplimo (19) has won the half marathon Championship in Gdynia, Poland on his debut.
Kiplimo won in a championship record 58:49, with compatriot Joshua Cheptegei coming in fourth. Uganda took team Gold as well in the 21.1km competition on Saturday.
Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie finished second, with five seconds behind the winner, while Ethiopia’s Amedework Walelegn took third place.
“I feel great, it was my first
time at the World Half Marathon Championships and I won. It is hard to explain because I am full of emotion. Unbelievable. The weather was really good. I’m so grateful for everyone who has supported me,” said Kiplimo just after the competition in an interview for World Athletics.
For Kiplimo it was a massive win as no Ugandan athlete had ever won an individual medal in 23 previous editions of the event. The event turned out to be special, with the first 10 athletes breaking 60 minutes, the first time that ever happened at the event.
