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Kiplagat hopes experience counts at Doha show
Benjamin Kiplagat is ranked the 23rd all-time best time over steeplechase in the world. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- Kiplagat, whose personal best and national record time of 8:03.89 from July 7, 2010 is ranked the 23rd all-time best time over steeplechase in the world, hopes experience counts in Doha.
About two years ago, Ugandan runner Benjamin Kiplagat contemplated an immediate switch from track for road.
The 3,000m steeplechase runner could barely handle the tartan as the pain from tendon and hamstring problems intensified after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Injuries,” he narrated to Daily Monitor in a recent chat. The pain held for some time since 2015 had become unbearable.
“Things were not going well on my side,” said Kiplagat, “Injuries changing from right to the left leg so I had to be out of competition for the last two years.”
With assistance from his manager Jurrie van der Velden, Kiplagat returned to compete, qualifying for Doha World Championships with a time of 8:26.79 via a race in Belgium mid-July.
After the flag-off at Lugogo this morning, Uganda will send its biggest contingent ever to the Worlds of 22, seven of whom are debutants.
Now 30, Kiplagat will be heading to the Worlds for a record sixth time. “I am feeling great,” he said.
No other Ugandan has featured more times at the Worlds. The 30-year-old featured at Osaka 2007, Berlin 2009, Daegu 2011, Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015 but he missed in London two years ago because of injury.
Kiplagat, whose personal best and national record time of 8:03.89 from July 7, 2010 is ranked the 23rd all-time best time over steeplechase in the world, hopes experience counts in Doha.
“Championship races are so tricky and for those I have attended, I learnt to run slow and at some level, it changes to be faster so you have to be ready at any point.
With a plan to switch to marathon after next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Kiplagat hopes to put up one more fight at the Worlds.
“I am now healthy, my speed is not bad and to be in the final will be great,” he added. Kiplagat last made a final at a championship in Moscow.
He will have back-up from younger ones Abel Sikowo and Albert Chemutai in the Heats at the Khalifa Stadium on October 1.
KIPLAGAT AT THE WORLDS
Osaka 2007: 28th (Heats), 8:40.65
Berlin 2009: 11th, 8:17.82
Daegu 2011: 10th, 8:22.21
Moscow 2013: 14th, 8:31.09
Beijing 2015: 31st (Heats), 8:54.46
MAJOR HONOUR
Steeplechase Bronze at 2012 Africa Senior Champs
TEAM UGANDA’S SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
5:10pm: Women’s 800m Heats (Halimah Nakaayi)
7pm: Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats (Peruth Chemutai)
7:55pm: Men’s 5000m Heats (Oscar Chelimo, Stephen Kissa)
11:59pm: Women’s Marathon Final (Linet Chebet)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
7:15pm: Women’s 800m Semi-Final
9:10pm: Women’s 10000m Final (Stella Chesang, Rachael Zena, Juliet Chekwel)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
6:20pm: Women’s 400m Heats (Shida Leni)
9:20pm: Men’s 5000m Final
9:50pm: Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Final
10:10pm: Women’s 800m Final
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
6:15pm: Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats (Albert Chemutai, Abel Sikowo, Benjamin Kiplagat)
8:50pm: Women’s 400m Semi-Final
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
5:35pm: Women’s 1500m Heats (Winnie Nanyondo, Esther Chebet)
6:25pm: Women’s 5000m Heats (Sarah Chelangat)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
10pm: Men’s 1500m Heats (Ronald Musagala)
11pm: Women’s 1500m Semi-Final
11:50pm: Women’s 400m Final
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
8:10pm: Men’s 1500m Semi-Final
9:45pm: Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
8:55pm: Women’s 1500m Final
9:25pm: Women’s 5000m Final
11:59pm: Men’s Marathon Final (Stephen Kiprotich, Fred Musobo, Solomon Mutai)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
7:40pm: Men’s 1500m Final
8pm: Men’s 10000m Final (Joshua Cheptegei, Abdallah Mande, Jacob Kiplimo).
