Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya clinched victory at the London Marathon, honoring the memory of last year's champion Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically passed away in a car accident in
February. Munyao's triumph marked a poignant moment as he crossed the finish line alone in front of Buckingham Palace, securing an impressive win in his debut major marathon.
Reflecting on his achievement, Munyao expressed his deep connection with Kiptum, revealing that he always carries his friend in his thoughts during races. "He’s in my thoughts every time because he was my great friend," Munyao shared. "It was a good day for me."
In a day of Kenyan dominance, Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir seized victory in the women's race, solidifying her position as a frontrunner to defend her gold medal in Paris. Pulling away in the final stretch, Jepchirchir left her competitors behind, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 16 minutes, and 16 seconds. While her time was more than 4 minutes slower than the world record, it set a new record for the fastest women-only marathon, surpassing Mary Keitany's mark set in 2017.
For Jepchirchir, the win was not only a personal triumph but also a statement to Kenya's Olympic selectors that she deserves a spot on the team for Paris. "So I was trying to work extra hard to (be able to) defend my title in the Olympics," she explained.
In the men's race, Munyao denied veteran Kenenisa Bekele a first London Marathon victory, pulling ahead with 3 kilometers to go to claim his biggest career win. Crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 1 second, Munyao secured victory, with Bekele finishing 14 seconds behind. Despite his remarkable performance, Munyao remains uncertain about his selection for Kenya's Olympic team, stating, "I hope for the best. If they select me, I will go and work for it."
Munyao's triumph and Jepchirchir's record-breaking victory underscore Kenya's continued dominance in long-distance running and set the stage for future successes on the global stage. Photo by Katie Chan, Wikimedia commons.