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Ugandan marathoner Stella Chesang continues to cement her status as one of the nation’s finest athletes, delivering a stellar performance at the Valencia Marathon on Sunday 1^st December 2024.

At the Valencia Marathon on Sunday, December 1^st , 2024, Ugandan marathoner Stella Chesang performed an outstanding performance, solidifying her place among the country’s best athletes.

Chesang clocked a remarkable 2:18:26, smashing her own national record of 2:20:23 set at last year’s Hamburg Marathon. This new time not only marked her personal best for the year but also underscored her growing dominance in the women’s marathon both nationally and continentally.

Chesang’s second-place finish came amid stiff competition from a strong Ethiopian contingent. Mergetu Alemu claimed victory with an impressive time of 2:16:49, while her compatriot Mesfin finished third. Despite the challenge, Chesang’s resilience and skill shone through, further solidifying her reputation on the global stage.

In the men’s category, Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe delivered a commanding performance, winning the race with a time of 2:02:05. Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta followed closely, securing second place with an impressive time of 2:02:38.

Meanwhile, Abel Boniface Sikowo also brought glory to Uganda with a superb performance at the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. Sikowo finished second with a time of 2:16:12, narrowly losing to Kenya’s Geoffrey Yegon, who crossed the finish line in 2:16:06.

National athletics coach Benjamin Njia applauded the duo for their excellent performances in their respective races.

“I congratulate Stella Chesang for bringing down the national women’s marathon record to 2:18:26, hence securing direct qualification to the 2025 World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan. Stella is one of our most consistent, reliable female athletes. Abel Sikowo is slowly becoming a strong marathon athlete. He is growing through the ranks in his career,” Njia highlighted.

For a nation that missed Olympic marathon medals, Chesang and Sikowo’s performances offer a glimmer of hope and redemption. Chesang, in particular, is emerging as a potential medalist for Uganda at the upcoming World Athletics Championships. Should she maintain or surpass her Valencia performance, she could become the first Ugandan woman to secure a marathon medal on the world stage.

As Uganda celebrates these remarkable achievements, Chesang and Sikowo have not only proven their mettle but also reignited the country’s hopes for marathon glory.

Valencia marathon Results

Women

1Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:49

2Stella Chesang (UGA) 2:18:26

3Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:35

Men

1 Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 2:02:05

2 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:38

3 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:04:24