Marathon racing in East Africa is now officially Ugandan

By ANIL BAKARI

It has now ceased to be a joke; Ugandans are the undisputed champions of marathon racing in East Africa.

The ‘banana’ country, which a few years ago was never known for producing champions in athletics is slowly edging out Kenya, especially in long-distance races. Ugandans are winning the marathon like it was made for them. Stephen Kiprotich beat us in London Olympics Marathon and crowned the success in Moscow two weeks by routing Kenyans fair and square. It appears these thrashings will not cease soon.

The other weekend, Safaricom organised an international marathon in Mombasa and again, a Ugandan emerged victorious. Our options have run out.

Ugandans are now even beating us on home soil, yet Kenya is home to the most memorable marathon runners ever. We invited Ugandans to train on our soil and learn our tricks — a case of the elephant seeking shelter in your house and later squeezing you out.

Still, one wonders why no Ugandan called Ssemogerere has huffed and panted his way to a marathon finish, or why all the Ugandan marathon runners are called Kip-something!

And guess which Ugandan girl won the 5,000m at the East African Secondary school games in Uganda? Stella ‘Chesang’.